Right on schedule, and on budget. That was the update on the Midsomer Norton Town Hall renovations given to the monthly meeting of the council on October 3.

With everything going to plan, so far, the completion date for the first stage of the iconic building in the heart of Midsomer Norton has been put as May 17 next year.

The project manager offered an update to councillors, reporting that Avon Archaeology were also involved in keeping in touch with the work on stripping the old market hall and creating a new arts and events space, should anything of heritage interest be uncovered now that workmen were at the site taking up the footings and stripping the ceilings.

She told the meeting: " Although it looks from the outside that nothing much is happening, inside the work is going on on schedule and it is going to plan."

Controversy over how much the hall work is costing does however continue, with Cllr Shaun Hughes once again asking the meeting to account for shortfall in funding, with changes in one figure given in the accounts from £25,000 to £250,000.

He once again asked councillors to explain the " How long is piece of string." comment made at the last meeting HERE about how much the total renovations will cost the town.

The project manager told councillors that, so far, this first phase of work has also been on budget, only costing an additional £225, for " additional asbestos handling" costs.

There will be a formal site meeting at the Town Hall on October 12 by which time it is anticipated that an architect will have been procured for Phase II of the Town Hall renovations.