More than £250,000 is to be spent revamping Yeadon Town Hall.

Leeds City Council will spend the cash on completely rewiring the 19th century building. Work is due to start next August when the Town Hall is closed and should be completed by September.

Ralph Porter, of Leeds City Council's leisure services, told a meeting of the Town Hall Users' Group that a thorough overhaul of the wiring was needed in order to meet EC standards.

Richard-Hughes Rowlands, from Guiseley, chairman of the users' group, welcomed the investment in one of the most used buildings in Leeds.

And the committee heard that councillors Mike and Moira Dunn (Lab, Aireborough) had also arranged a special grant of £10,000 which will be used to decorate the main hall as soon as the rewiring is completed.

The money will come from their MICE fund, or members improvements for community environment money.

Hilda Waite, treasurer of the users' group, said it had a balance in hand in excess of £3,300 and it had been agreed to spend £1,800 of this installing a control box for stage lighting at the rear of the balcony.

And the committee is looking to obtain an electric piano to replace the piano now used in the rehearsal room by societies whose stage productions are put on at the town hall.

Councillor Moira Dunn confirmed the rewiring work would begin in August 1999. "We hope that none of the local organisations will be affected by the work," she said.

And Councillor Mike Dunn said the work meant that the Town Hall would be available for public use for many years to come. "We would have to be in a bad way if we started closing down buildings like Yeadon Town Hall," he said.

The hall has been used by a large variety of organisations throughout its life and is extensively used by local amateur operatic and dramatic societies and concerts and dances are also held there.

The next major event is a barn dance at the town hall on Saturday January 9 when it is hoped about £1,000 will be raised.

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