DESPITE speculation to the contrary, Wetherspoon IS still committed to opening a pub in the old town hall building in the centre of Wellington.

The pub chain boarded up the building in October with metal boarding fuelling rumours it was having second thoughts about the project.

But Wellington town clerk Greg Dyke has received an email from Ian Timms, assistant director of business development at

Taunton Deane Borough Council,

which sheds more light on the proposed

pub – although there is no date for starting work on the project or, indeed, when it will open.

The email says: “In the last week or so I have been in contact with Wetherspoon’s development manager.

“He advises that they plan to submit an amended planning application shortly and are therefore committed to the delivery of this site. I understand that they have experienced some cost issues due to complications with the building which needed to be addressed.

“I will follow through the planning application with them to ensure it is considered as quickly as possible and we should then get a timescale for works once it has been agreed/considered.”

In the meantime Wellington Town Council is believed to want Wetherspoon to clean up the site, particularly Cornhill, which runs alongside the old town hall.

Pigeon mess is the biggest problem and has been for some time. The old Cornhill Arcade entrance has been described by one ex-planner as ‘the worst I have seen in this country’.