Dewsbury Register Office moves into town hall

The service was due to be relocated in summer 2013 as part of a proposed partial refurbishment to make the town hall a focal point for cultural, civic and public life.

But lorries started transferring files from the current Wellington Street site this week.

A council spokesman said: “It was felt that local people would benefit from an earlier change as the town hall will provide a more pleasant environment.”

The move, expected to be completed by Tuesday, means there will now be four tenants in the building. The others are Batley and Dewsbury Towns’ Management, Young Dewsbury, and the Disabled People’s Electronic Village Hall.

Richard Batterby, of Kirklees Town Halls, said his team looked forward to welcoming register office colleagues.

“We’re working hard to promote Dewsbury Town Hall as the destination for conferences, events, weddings and functions in the local area,” he said.

“It is paying off, with increased amounts of enquiries and bookings for functions, school proms, award ceremonies, graduations, cabaret evenings and wedding receptions.”

Earlier this year, dozens of council workers moved to the neighbouring customer service centre and Empire House.

This led to concerns that the building was being neglected.

The proposed refurbishment programme includes an improved box office and reception area with exhibition space, improved toilets, work on the function rooms, and new bar, cafe and kitchen facilities.

The council has not said what it plans to do with its Wellington Road building once the register office team has left.