A LEADING councillor has called for urgent action to carry out repairs at Colchester's historic Moot Hall. 

The Grade I-listed hall with its ornate plaster ceiling was ruled to be unsafe by experts almost two years ago, leading to the closure of the second-floor room at Colchester Town Hall in early 2023. 

The Moot Hall was used for civic functions and could be hired out by the public. 

Councillor Tim Young addressed the council's cabinet with his concerns regarding delays in the repair works. 

He said: “I was the last mayor that was fortunate enough to have mayor making and the Oyster Feast in the Moot Hall. 

“We’re losing income because it isn’t being fixed. It’s a prestigious part of the building and I feel enormous sympathy for former councillor John Jowers and councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell and it looks like councillor Michael Lilley, as well, is not being able to have functions in the Moot Hall. 

“We need to get on with that, asap.” 

Critic - Councillor Tim Young called for actionCritic - Councillor Tim Young called for action

Mr Young claimed the council was being “mind-boggling slow” and appealed to cabinet members to get the issue resolved quickly. 

“We need to get on with these things. If there are feasibility reports, let’s get them done. These are important buildings and structures, important to the people of Colchester.” 

Council leader David King assured Mr Young work is underway.

He said: “We’ve shared the complexity of this. It’s a historic structure. It can’t go faster.

"It’s not local government in my view, this is just the reality of the market and the reality that you have to get approvals from a whole body of people who go at their pace to ensure that what we do is right.” 

Leader - Council leader David King said the issue was complexLeader - Council leader David King said the issue was complex

The council does not yet know how much the work will cost, but the hall will remain closed for the rest of the year due to “significant" damage to the ceiling. 

Hirst Conservation, which carried out surveys to asses the plasterwork, said in a report the condition of the ceiling was in a "friable and unstable state with an inadequate support system in place to safely maintain secure hold of the ceiling”.

The hall has a capacity of 260 and used to be a popular venue for a variety of events such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties, as well as weddings and conferences. 

Further work will be discussed at the planning committee meeting on Thursday, November 28.