Ludlow courtroom dock to be moved in office scheme
The dock at Ludlow's former magistrates court – which has been used for centuries – is set to be moved as part of plans to transform the building into offices for the town council.
Officials at Ludlow Town Council want to move the old dock – where criminals have stood to be tried since the 18th century – to turn the former courtroom into a council chamber for public meetings. The dock will be moved to the back of the chamber.
The Guildhall is one of Ludlow's oldest buildings and dates back more than 600 years, but lay empty for more than a year after the magistrates court was shut last year as part of nationwide closures. The town council took over the building and moved in earlier this month.
The council also wants to attach a notice board to the building in Mill Street to keep residents informed about its activities.
The council moved back into the Guildhall because of the lack of interest shown when it was put up for sale at £350,000 after the court closure.
Desks, phones and files have already been transferred across and council officials have also agreed a deal which will see HM Court Service pay £26,000 towards vital repairs.
A design and access statement submitted as part of a planning application to Shirehall says: "Currently the building is left in the same way as when the building ceased to be used by the magistrates court. It is proposed that the courtroom could be adapted to become a place of meeting.
"This would mean that much of the layout would stay the same, however it would mean that the dock would need to be relocated to the eastern wall of the room.
"By keeping the dock intact and relocating to the rear of the room the character would not be harmed and the relationship to its former use will still be clear."
