Following the discovery, eighteen months ago, that the Moot Hall ceiling was in danger of collapsing we are now very pleased to say that the Council was granted Planning Permission to ‘undertake stabilisation and repair works to the fibrous plaster ceiling’ in the Hall. Considerable consultative work had been undertaken to reach this stage. The Council’s Planning website has full details, see Application No. 242071. The good news is that contractors have just started that repair work! 

Even though the Moot Hall is crammed with supportive scaffolding the vital humidifying equipment for the organ has been regularly maintained and the  organ builders, Harrison & Harrison, are due soon to make their second visit this year to tune and inspect the organ. At their last visit, which was the first time they had been allowed access since the closure, they found that it had survived its inactivity remarkably well.  I am delighted that we can now look forward and, together with the Council, we will be planning some celebrations for the  reopening of the Hall -watch this space!