Court could move to Chesterfield Town Hall

Derbyshire County Council - which is responsible for coroner services in the area - has submitted a planning application to Chesterfield Borough Council to convert part of the ground floor of the town hall into a courtroom where inquests into people's deaths can be held.

Chesterfield coroners' court has 'outgrown its existing accommodation' on Basil Close in the town and 'wishes to expand and improve the level of services it can offer', according to the county council.

Chesterfield Civic Society said it 'strongly supports' the plan.

Philip Riden, chairman of the society, said: "This will not, in our view, do any damage to the interior of one of the most important buildings in the town, and will help to ensure the continued use of the rest of the building by the council.

"The scheme will presumably yield a useful rent to the council, while leaving open the possibility of the return of the rooms to local authority use, if circumstances change."

Chesterfield Town Hall, a Grade II-listed building, has recently undergone a £2.7million refurbishment.

The revamp was aimed at preserving the building for future generations and providing the borough council with an opportunity to rent out space to other organisations, raising much-needed cash.

Last month, Chesterfield register office moved to the town hall from New Beetwell Street.