LANCASTER Town Hall could be turned into a museum and Morecambe Town Hall into prestige flats - with a new purpose built civic building going up in the resort.

That is the bones of a report going before Lancaster City Council's cabinet on Tuesday next week.

The bold move is something which city officials believe will help take the district forward.

Around 300 staff would have to be relocated to Morecambe if the plans goes ahead as part of an overhaul of council accommodation.

The likely £10 million cost of the move would be offset by grants awarded for turning the current Lancaster Town Hall into a museum and from the sale of other council buildings, says the report.

Even though relocation would be expensive, officers say it is a cheaper option than maintaining the current buildings.

Both town halls are unsuitable for their current purpose according to officers.

Three-quarters of Lancaster's landmark building is unused at the moment, while Morecambe's civic building is also largely empty.

A new site for a town hall in Morecambe has not been selected yet but the new base would be designed with modern office requirements in mind.

Lancaster's city museum in Market Square the originial town hall could be turned into a public counter and call centre.

If councillors support the move, the new town hall which is likely to be leased could be in operation in around six years.

"This would be better for the majority of the council's staff," says chief executive Mark Cullinan.

"Most of our staff live on the Morecambe side of the river."

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