Hebden Bridge Town Hall now fully wheelchair-accessible

One hundred and fifteen years after it was first built, Hebden Bridge's Town Hall is now for the first time able to welcome everyone with mobility difficulties.

The installation last week of the wheelchair hoist in the ground floor foyer enables wheelchair users to be able to reach the ground floor of the original Victorian Town Hall building for the first time. It was previously accessed up the flight of stairs from St George's Street. The ground floor houses the offices of a number of Calderdale council staff, including the Hebden Bridge neighbourhood officer Jae Campbell.

Access to the rest of the Town Hall, including the Town Council and Parish Council offices, the Council Chamber and the Greenwood Room on the first floor, has been accessible via the lift in the new building since last summer.

"When we first took over the Town Hall building from Calderdale council, one of our major concerns was to make it accessible for everyone. The Victorians bequeathed us a fine landmark building, but unfortunately one which didn't meet today's standards for accessibility. It's taken us a little time, but we're delighted to have finally got there," says Andrew Bibby, Hebden Bridge Community Association trustee.

£5000 towards the cost of the wheelchair hoist has been made available through the South Pennines LEADER programme. The trustees are currently fundraising to meet the additional £4000 cost.

The new Waterfront Hall and the upstairs Terrace Room have also been equipped with hearing induction loop systems, for those hard of hearing.