PLANS to install new pillars in the Town Hall have been refused by the district council's planning committee.

An application to replace four pillars in the ground floor room of the Church Street hall and fit steel replacements was made to the district council in September, as reported in the Chronicle.

But the proposals were refused on the grounds the Town Hall is a Grade I listed building, and the committee considered it would affect the character, appearance and integrity of a listed building by reason of the loss of visual access to substantial elements of the ceiling and the structure.

Treasurer Nick Dearling said they had been given suggestions that instead of putting up pillars they could hollow out the beams and put steel reinforcements and resin inside them.

But he said when they consulted a structural engineer he said it would not work, partly because they would not be strong enough and because it was technically not possible.

"So we now have to go back, but I am not sure what we will do. We have to re-submit plans but we have to decide what we are going to re-submit - if they do not like what we have now, we don't really have a plan B," he added.

Mr Dearling said they had been hoping the plans would open up the bottom room for people who could not get up the stairs.

He said: "If we opened up the downstairs it would turn it into a room and of course if we are going to refurbish the floor we need to work out what to do with the beams first.

He said the plans they had submitted would not damage the structure of the building so if future committees wanted to change it in 100 years they could.

"But the problem seems to be primarily aesthetic, they consider that we would cover the beams and that would ruin the appearance of the ceiling," he added.

"So now it's back to the drawing board."