CONGLETON people have dubbed their town hall the Marie Celeste, councillor Judith Thwaite said this week.

Clr Thwaite said the nickname had been given to the building by local people who claimed it was hardly being used.

Clr Thwaite was due to ask questions about the running of the hall, which has been covered in scaffolding since March, at Monday's borough amenities committee.

She said she withdrew them after receiving a ''strong assurance'' from committee chairman Dorothy Flint she would receive a full written response to her questions.

The questions related to problems with the town hall masonry, the provision of a room for Congleton Community Projects, and cover for the caretaker while he was on holiday.

''I have to have answers to these questions because they have been put to me by members of the public,'' she said.

''People are calling the town hall the Marie Celeste of Congleton because it is like a ghost place and virtually no-one uses it.''

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