A SECOND round of public consultation about the future of Witney’s Corn Exchange has begun.

Residents can vote on their preferred designs for the Market Square hall and help to decide the final look of the building.

Witney Town Council has whittled down the potential designers to two and their concepts are now on display at the Langdale Hall, in Langdale Gate, until Thursday July 12.

Toby Morris, the chairman of the council’s public halls committee, said: “We have reached the second stage of the public consultation.

“This is the bit which for me is the most important, because this is where we definitely find out what the town needs.

“We have done a lot of listening over the past six months and now we are not just listening, we are asking as well.

“We want the views of as many people who live in Witney as possible, whether they are interested in the Corn Exchange or not.”

The council closed the hall in November after an inspection found problems with fire escapes, masonry and heating and electrical systems.

Deputy town clerk Claire Swan said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a legacy building for the town centre.

“All comments will be taken into account when we look at the future plans of the Corn Exchange.

“We have tried to make sure everyone has their opportunity to have their views heard.”

She added: “It’s really important that people attend the exhibition or fill in the survey online at our website.”

Visitors to the exhibition at the Langdale Hall can see the concepts of both designers and fill in questionnaires about their views on the proposals.

Town councillors and staff will also be out on the streets of Witney over the coming weeks – in bright yellow T-shirts – to seek people’s views.

After the consultation closes, the council will interview the two designers, asking questions posed by the public in their survey responses, to select the winner.

The interviews are expected to take place on August 1.

The exhibition is open today from 1.30pm to 5.30pm and on Saturday from 9.30am to 1.30pm, then on Monday, between 6.30pm and 10pm; and next Thursday from 1.30pm and 5.30pm.

The following week it will be open on Monday, July 9, between 6.30pm and 10pm; and on Thursday, July 12, from 1.30pm to 5.30pm.

  • The Corn Exchange questionnaire is also available online at the council’s website.