Plans to rebuild Grade II listed town hall after Grampound crash

Discussions are underway to protect the structure and rebuild it

Author: Megan PricePublished 28th Dec 2022

A local councillor has said there's no plans for further speed restrictions after the crash in Grampound on Christmas Eve - and their main priority is to rebuild the town hall.

One lane of the A390 in Cornwall reopened after the accident caused it to close on Christmas Eve and investigations in to the incident are ongoing.

Discussions are now ongoing to protect and restore the grade II listed building.

Cllr. Mark Taylor told us: "We've had small conversations with our insurers and they've instructed a structural engineer. He'll then also be putting in process the rebuild situation.

"The rubble has fallen down and is on the road. I think everyone is keen that the original stone work is reused in the rebuild. It is only a small amount of the building that's come down so I don't see any reason why it can't be rebuilt".

The road has an average speed limit of 30mph and Cllr Taylor says although it doesn't seem to have stopped accidents. He says they're not looking to campaign to put any further measures in place to improve the situation.

Cllr Taylor told us their main goal is the rebuild and making sure the structures are safe:

"There is a danger of further stone work falling down - nothing has been done as of yet to stabilise the building. That lane that is open is controlled by traffic lights. There's not an awful lot of traffic on the road and I don't suppose there will be an awful lot of traffic.

"There is a little bit of concern that the heavy vehicles going through the building might rumble and destabilise the building further. There are two cracks in the wall we've noticed so that might get worse".

Inside the part of the building that has been damaged the village's museum which holds some items of value to the history of Grampound.

Cllr Mark Taylor added: "We can't get into the state of the exhibits at the moment. I'm hopeful that nothing significant has been done but there was a display cabinet up against the wall that's come down that did have value to the village.

"You can see into the ground floor and you can see into the upstairs, so the damage is quite substantial.

"It is a bit concerning but we would like to get in and see what's going on in there".

You can hear all the latest news on the hour, every hour.