REFURBISHMENT for Darwen Town Hall has not been affected by council bosses scaling back plans.

But, as reported in the Lancashire Telegraph, the council tower block next to Blackburn Town Hall could be left empty or knocked down to save cash.

The 14-storey high-rise set of offices will be surplus to requirements by 2020 because of reductions in local authority staff.

Cllr Andy Kay told a Blackburn with Darwen Council executive board meeting a full report about the future of the tower block would be presented to the board in the coming months.

He added: “We had a full refurbishment programme outlined some months ago but due to financial constraints, we have revised that down.

"We are trying to maximise use of the spaces we have as much as we can.

“What we are trying to do is make sure we minimise cost and maximise use and convenience for staff as much as we can without disruption to the general public in terms of services at the front desk.

“The original ideas of what we were going to do for the town hall in Darwen have not been reduced.”

Darwen Town Hall needs external works including covering the roof, and stonework restoration.

Last year, the council unveiled plans to move staff to the tower block building while refurbishment works were carried out at Blackburn Town Hall as part of a £6.5m accommodation strategy.

But financial constraints mean the plan has been scaled back and now costs £1.95m.

Leaving the tower block empty will save the council between between £120,000 and £290,000 a year in running and maintenance costs.

In a report presented to the board, Cllr Kay said: “As the council’s workforce has decreased so has the occupancy of the core accommodation buildings.

“There is therefore further scope for building rationalisation to reduce costs and improve services and it has been agreed that all four buildings are no longer required, and that the occupied sites could be rationalised from four buildings to three.

“This position takes into account the availability of office accommodation at the bungalow at the Davyfield Road depot.

“The bungalow refurbishment has now been completed and will provide out-of-town accommodation for up to 120 staff from appropriate teams, including the existing occupants.