 ST GEORGE'S Hall is to be given a £2m lottery grant. It will secure the next phase of the Liverpool landmark's restoration, including work on the 150-year-old Willis organ. Managers want the neo-classical Lime Street building in working order for Liverpool's 800th birthday in 2007. The ECHO revealed last month that they had launched a campaign to raise £5m to pay for restoration of the north entrance hall, repairs to the organ, the revamp of the crown court and cells area and bringing the small concert room back into use. A public entrance is planned for the south end of the building, complete with shop, cafe and exhibition space. The Heritage Lottery Fund grant will be added to £1m from the council, a bid for £500,000 Objective 1 funding , and £700,000 already raised by trustees, leaving £800,000 to be found. But Graham Boxer, the city's head of heritage development, said today work could start as early as May or June. "I'm confident we'll raise the money," he said. "Work can start in the meantime. The small concert room will be done during 2005 and the north end is a priority. We can also get on with the south end entrance." The organ, and a glass floor in the main hall to reveal the Minton tiles beneath, will be tackled in 2006. Mr Boxer added: "We're looking to launch a public appeal at the hall in the summer. We want people to be able to come in and have a good look round." Much of the groundwork has already been carried out as part of the £18m first phase of redevelopment work. The hall's great organ, the third largest in Britain, needs £120,000 of repairs to its original leather bellows. City organist Ian Tracey said: "It isa beautiful instrument to play but unfortunately it's mechanically unreliable." 7,000-pipe dream > > > | 
News RSS Feed