Stromness Town Hall repair crews race January reopening
Rat infestation forces extended Town Hall closure as kitchen damage is assessed
Stromness Town Hall is facing an extended closure, possibly into the New Year, after rats got into the building and caused damage that council staff are still assessing. The aim, according to the council, is to have the much-loved building back in use in January.
The problem surfaced last week when a member of the cleaning staff spotted a rat. Pest control teams and building inspectors were mobilised immediately to tackle the infestation and investigate how the rodents had entered the premises. Investigations suggest the rats found their way in only recently.
Garry Burton, the council’s Head of Active Communities, said anyone who has dealt with rats in a property will know that even a small number can cause a huge amount of damage in a relatively short period of time. Initial investigations have found damage to pipework in the kitchen, and there are suspicions of internal damage to the walls as well.
On the operational side, pest control will continue to monitor traps on site. In parallel, work is getting underway to strip back the kitchen and other internal fittings to establish the full extent of the damage. Burton said the council acted quickly and decisively, but the closure will be extended while the damage is assessed and rectified. The works period will also be used to carry out any further minor works to the building.
Users of the hall are already feeling the impact. The council has contacted user groups and others with bookings, including couples with upcoming weddings at the facility, who have been offered alternative use of Stromness Academy.
The building itself has a long history. Stromness Town Hall was built between 1890 and 1892 by Samuel Baikie and became known as the North Kirk. After its ecclesiastical use ended, the building was adapted as a public hall, a role it has continued to serve the town since.
Whether the January reopening holds will depend on what the strip-back reveals about the damage inside the walls.
Q&A
Why is Stromness Town Hall closed?
Rats got into the building and caused damage, including to pipework in the kitchen, with suspicions of internal damage to the walls. The closure has been extended while the damage is assessed and rectified.
When is the building expected to reopen?
The council aims to have the building back in use in January, but whether that target holds depends on what the strip-back reveals about the damage inside the walls.
What is being done on site?
Pest control teams are monitoring traps on site, and work is underway to strip back the kitchen and other internal fittings to establish the full extent of the damage. The works period will also be used for further minor works.
How are hall users being accommodated?
The council has contacted user groups and others with bookings, including couples with upcoming weddings, who have been offered alternative use of Stromness Academy.