A PENSIONER is calling for a former Masonic hall in Portishead to be turned into a museum to celebrate the industrial heritage of the town.

Cicely Familton, 84, pictured, who lives at Port Marine, says she would like the dilapidated hall at Pier Road turned into a community museum.

Plans were put forward earlier this year by the Eldon Lodge, who used watches y to meet at the hall, to turn it into six flats and a two- bedroom house. But the plans were rejected by councillors last month on the grounds that no parking was included in the development and that the properties would overlook neighbouring homes.

The hall was once the original ticket office and railway station which served Portishead Pier and the docks railway.

In the 19th century passengers would get off paddle steamers which docked at the pier and then board trains on the specially extended railway line before it was listed as a goods only station in 1904.

The hall has been vacant for several years, with the lodge relocating to Clevedon in 2004, and has been left to fall into disrepair.

Now Mrs Familton is calling for consideration to be given to turning the building into a heritage centre and museum to display some of Portishead's historic artefacts.

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