Walsall Council House security to be beefed up with extra set of doors

Visitors to the venue in Walsall will be greeted by an extra set of glass doors, controlled from the inside, as well as a new reception desk area, as the authority looks to beef up security at the building.

It is part of a £200,000 programme of works to maintain the council house with other projects including carrying out repairs and upholstery work to the chamber seating, improving audio systems and introducing webcam facilities for meetings.

Under the new arrangements, visitors will get access via an intercom system with the doors being electronically operated by curators on the inside.

People will also be greeted ‘face-on’ by a new reception desk, instead of reporting to the office currently based on the left-hand side.

As well improving security and safety arrangements for staff, Walsall Council said it has a legal responsibility to maintain the building – built in the early 20th century, due to its listed status.

In the original plans first unveiled in 2018, an electronically-operated swing gate was going to be installed but the plans have been altered to include doors instead.

A spokesman for Walsall Council said: "Security doors are part of the wider refurbishment of the Council House.

"The cost of the work to the doors is included in the £200,000 refurbishment and security works plan and this element of the works required a listed building consent application as the town hall is Grade II listed."

While the majority of residents access services at the Civic Centre in Darwall Street, almost all local authority meetings take place at the Council House, many of which are open to the public.

David Lockwood, manager soft facilities management and housing standards and improvement, said: "It is expected that the proposed works will have minimal impact on the historic nature of the building but will provide a method of increasing the security and access control that is required."