Nantwich Town Council has unveiled plans for a £200,000 extension to the town's Civic Hall.
The Civic Hall, built in 1951, is an important venue with community groups, live music and entertainment and private functions for the town and surrounding area and the Town Council sees it as an essential element in the provision of services at the local level.
It draws people from a wide area to entertainment nights including comedy, tribute acts and film nights. The hall is also the venue for dances, antique fairs and table top sales.
Over the years it has been extended several times and now plans are in the pipeline to build a single storey extension to the rear creating a large multi-purpose room, additional and improved dressing rooms, additional toilet facilities and refuse storage facilities. In order to future proof the proposed extension the foundations and build would accommodate any plans for a second storey.
A council spokesman said: "Nantwich Town Council has managed the Civic Hall since its transfer from Cheshire East Council in May 2012.
"The Civic Hall is an important venue with community groups, live music and entertainment and private functions for the town and surrounding area and the Town Council views it as an essential element in the provision of services at the local level.
"The Town Council wishes to invest in the Civic Hall to secure its long-term future as a community building serving the people of Nantwich and the surrounding area. The Council wishes to add to the accommodation in order that the building can be used for a wider variety of community uses and events in the future.
"We are eager to affect an improvement to the current rather poor appearance the Hall's existing rear elevation and yard presents, to this well used public area. Strongly influenced by the building's 1950's 'Civic Hall' style, the proposed extension offers significant improvements to both the appearance and structural integrity of the existing rear extension.
"The materials, colours and form of the proposed extension are reflective of both the Civic Hall's prominent front elevation, along with the various finished materials featured on the contemporary buildings around the car park.
"The addition of this extension and the resultant floor area represents a major investment based on a sound assessment of the requirements necessary to simultaneously host a multitude of diverse functions, touching the whole community of Nantwich and beyond."
A planning application for the proposed development has been submitted to Cheshire East Council.
People who would like to express their views are asked to write to Nantwich Town Council at The Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG. They can also be emailed to nantwichtc@nantwichtowncouncil.gov.uk
During the build of the extension the Civic Hall will remain open and all regular bookings will continue as usual. There will be minimal disruption to the function of the hall.