Brides face wedding day ruin
Report by Charlotte Richardson , chief reporter
Monday, July 23, 2012
7:00 AM
CONFUSED couples face disappointment ahead of their big day as their wedding venue could be sold before they walk down the aisle.
North Somerset Council wants to move ceremonies from Weston Register Office to the Town Hall, but has no idea when and how the move will take place.
It cannot tell couples booked into the Boulevard building if they will need to change their wedding venue and is still taking bookings for the ceremony room in the register office a year in advance.
The local authority says no changes will take place before January, but it does intend to move weddings to the old chamber of the Town Hall as part of the council’s £9.7million plan to create ‘much more efficient, cheaper and accessible offices for staff and residents’.
It is unclear whether the dozens of couples booked in for their big day next summer are being warned when they book their wedding that their ceremony could be held somewhere different and that the register office is set to be sold.
But the Mercury can confirm a number of brides-to-be have been shown the ceremony room at the register office and told they can book their special day there a year in advance – with no word of warning about the changes.
One bride-to-be told the Mercury: “Brides will stand and wait in the Town Hall while council staff come and go for lunch and meetings.
“It is not a nice period building, it is a modern functional space, not what you want for that special day.”
The council says it is consulting with the General Register Office over the changes, but details over timescales are still ‘under consideration’.
Registration of a birth or death is also set to be moved to the Town Hall in Walliscote Grove Road, Weston.
North Somerset councillor Mike Bell voiced objection over the proposed move last year when the idea was first mooted.
He said this week: “It seems extraordinary that even after £10million of expenditure at the Town Hall and much detailed planning they still don’t really have a clue how they are going to move the registration service.
“Is it desirable anyway? Will couples be queuing up to marry in the dark and dingy old council chamber?”
More news
- Driver handed curfew for motorcyclist death
- Mum’s race after cancer recovery
- Police appeal over missing woman
- Fire crews called to suspected arson car blaze
- Hospital up for sale sparks ‘fight to protect it’
- Waves of talent from Weston students
- Illegal tobacco found on estate
- Apprenticeship advice at student pop-up shop
- Environment award for primary school
- Josh’s bike ride for his granddad
Online Publications
Click here to see our online publications
This content requires Adobe Flash Player
5 comments
Is there any way we as a town can call a no confidence vote?
Report this comment
Simo
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Im sorry to those affected on their big day, but unfortunately the numpties having blown another £10mil have again, whilst trying to be clever, failed to dot the i's and cross the t's. I just wonder how many more issues around the new town hall shall be decided by 'licking their fingers and pointing them in the air' for guidance!
Report this comment
TrueWestonian
Monday, July 23, 2012
The old part of the original town hall where the old steps and archways are would be a beautiful setting for marriage, but I really hope the council wont let couples down and will give them plenty of notice. I really think the venue will be better in the long run though, the photos will be stunning. I do agree the new build town hall is not appropriate, the council are talking about the old victorian building I believe.
Report this comment
no name supplied
Monday, July 23, 2012
I hope they don't do to everyone what they did to me ... They had put on my notice of mariage that we were getting married in the registry office which turned out to be a little office upstairs, They were suppose to put ceremony rooms. They made the mistake but still charged me another 70 pounds to correct it. It is a legal requirement to give nottice with the correct place on the notice.
Report this comment
Charlotte Cope
Monday, July 23, 2012
I hope they don't do to everyone what they did to me ... They had put on my notice of mariage that we were getting married in the registry office which turned out to be a little office upstairs, They were suppose to put ceremony rooms. They made the mistake but still charged me another 70 pounds to correct it. It is a legal requirement to give nottice with the correct place on the notice.
Report this comment
Charlotte Cope
Monday, July 23, 2012