Simon Rigby’s stalled renovation of the front of Preston Guild Hall now looks set to land Preston City Council with a new bill.

Lancashire County Council undertook major roadworks down Lancaster Road during 2018.

The area immediately out the front of the Guild Hall was left untouched as Mr Rigby had been due to remove the current staircases and put in new staircases.

But as work never happened the county council is now seeking to finish the work down Lancaster Road.

Preston City Council as the owner of the land is being asked to pay £86,000 towards the work.

A report to a meeting of full council says the county council has imposed a deadline of mid-August for whether the city council will stump up the cash or not.

This would allow the county council to start the work before the end of September with an aim to have finished the work by mid-November.

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Council officers state the city council is going to have to borrow money to be able to fund the works, with an interest cost of £4,153 on the loan.

The report goes on to state if the city council funds the work now it will work out cheaper than if it waits and attempts to complete the work on its own.

If the city council funds the work now it will work out cheaper than if it waits and attempts to complete the work on its own.

The Guild Hall remains mothballed as a venue following Mr Rigby placing the Guild Hall Ltd into administration.

Preston City Council took back control of the building under forfeiture of the lease from Mr Rigby who had taken on the building for £1 back in 2014.

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The city council is in talks with a number of operators to take on the running of the venue. Other units within the Guild Hall arcade and facing into Lancaster Road remain open.

Councillors will meet on Thursday August 22 to discuss the proposals.

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