ALTON Assembly Rooms is to have a facelift with a new entrance porch more in keeping with its Victorian heritage.

Designed by architect Tony Cohen, who was also appointed to manage the work, the project has been triggered by the rotting of the side window frame in the entrance ports which has been boarded up to reduce potential risk. But councillors at Alton Town Council’s policy and resources committee meeting on January 18 heard that the vinyl and boarding provided a short-term solution to the problem. East Hampshire District Council’s conservation officer was anticipating an application within the next three to six months.

It has also been indicated by EHDC that S106 environmental improvement ‘pot’ funding would be available to improve the entrance porch, which was felt to be “aesthetically unsympathetic” to its Victorian surroundings.

Mr Cohen has come up with a more sympathetic design, to replace the window with one in keeping with the rest of the building, and to install a toughened glass entrance door. The makeover would also include a replacement post box and new railings.

Dean Phillips asked to remove the suspended ceiling and install a new inner glass door.