THE fire exits at Witney’s Corn Exchange did not provide a safe means of escape, it has emerged.

Ten “major” faults have been identified at the hall in Market Square since it was closed following the discovery that the heating and ventilation system was in danger of “imminent failure”.

It has now emerged that the building, owned by Witney Town Council, needs “appropriate” fire exits, new boilers, a load certificate for the stage lighting and action to tackle rising damp.

The door to the building’s upper circle also needs widening to keep it in line with fire regulations.

The council had previously said the bleacher seating could be a fire hazard and that there are “substantial” problems with the external brickwork.

The council has also been forced to install steel rods to support the building’s balcony and has attached nets to the outside of the hall to protect passers-by.

But the full extent of problems at the hall may never be known, after the council refused to release the builder’s report.

Clerk Sharon Groth said in December that the council would look to remove a confidentiality clause put on the report by its author, SJ Treloar and Associates.

But she has now said the clause cannot be removed and releasing the document would be a breach of confidence, for which the council could be sued.

At a public halls meeting on Tuesday, town councillor Roger Curry said: “There are no secrets in the report – no bodies buried in it.

“I do not think we should be wasting time trying to publish the report. We should concentrate on getting the hall back up and running.”

But the committee wants all future reports commissioned by the council not to have such a clause. Members also agreed to commission three firms of architects to draw up designs for the Corn Exchange revamp so the public can decide which route to take.

The two options are spending about £500,000 to meet the statutory requirements and open it within six to nine months, or spend about £1.5m to fully refurbish the hall and open it within 12 to 18 months.

The council only has £190,000 in its public halls reserve and is considering selling Langdale Hall, in Langdale Gate, or raising council tax to pay for the costs.

Before a decision can be made on the Corn Exchange, the council needs to see a report on the electric system. The report, which the council expects to receive soon, could say that the entire building needs rewiring.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the council also agreed to spend £4,375 on a new fire door at Langdale Hall to increase its capacity from 245 to 430.

The council has already spent £45,000 revamping the hall – including creating two new meeting rooms, restoring the dance floor and improving disabled, kitchen and toilet facilities – to compensate for the Corn Exchange closure.

But council member Chris Woodward said: “We should never lose sight of the fact we should be focusing on the Corn Exchange.”

  • To have your say on the future of the halls, call 01993 704379 or see witney-tc.gov.uk/publichalls.html