Oakham Town Council Moves Forward with Victoria Hall Plans and 20mph Speed Limit Support 8th April 2026 Meeting Video

by The Local Democracy Reporter, ldreporter@post.com

Oakham Town Council met on Wednesday, 8th April 2026, for a productive session that saw significant progress on the future of Victoria Hall and a formal commitment to local road safety. Chaired by Cllr C Nix, the meeting covered a range of civic matters from infrastructure repairs to ambitious community bids.

The highlight of the evening was a detailed presentation regarding the refurbishment and governance of Victoria Hall. The Council agreed on a multi-stage approach to revitalise the historic building:

Stage 1 focuses on obtaining trustee ownership for the Council and registering deeds with the Land Registry. The Council authorised £9,850 for essential legal work by Anthony Collins Solicitors to ensure a robust framework is in place.

Stage 2 will involve securing planning and building consents to begin physical works.

A major consultation is planned, including the distribution of 5,000 flyers and a survey to gauge public support for the project. Notably, Cllr Brookes volunteered to personally deliver these leaflets to Oakham residents.

The Council approved £24,000 for contract management and design fees to oversee the early stages of the project.

While debates occurred regarding the business plan and potential "twin-hatted" legal conflicts, the majority of Councillors voted to proceed with these essential first steps to protect the building's future.

In a move toward enhanced pedestrian safety, the Council formally resolved to support the principle of 20mph speed limits on appropriate streets within Oakham. The motion passed with the backing of Cllr R Payne (RCC), who noted that such a scheme would likely find broad support at the county level. The Chair and Clerk will now formally write to Rutland County Council to offer a partnership in implementing these changes.

The meeting also touched on several immediate town matters:

The Clerk reported that a large tree at Centenary Field which fell during high winds was promptly felled and cleared to ensure public safety.

Cllr Clark confirmed that a bid has been submitted for Oakham to be recognised as a UK Town of Culture, following positive public feedback gathered at local market stalls.

The police have officially closed the case regarding unauthorized access to Council premises.

The Council is preparing for a busy May, with the Annual Town Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 12th May, followed by the Annual Town Council Meeting on Wednesday, 13th May

For more local news, community updates, and what's on in the area, visit Oakham and Rutland News.