ANYONE visiting County Hall in Taunton next month will need to head to the reception area in A-Block.

From Monday, October 3, Somerset County Council is re-opening the front doors of the Grade II listed A-Block and closing the B-Block and C-Block reception desks to the public.

The B-Block reception desk will remain open for staff and contractors only.

However, the doors will remain open to visitors and the public, who will then be signposted through to A-Block reception.

Members of the public will still also be able to access the County Hall restaurant.

Anyone visiting Children’s Social Care will also need to make their way to A-Block reception, where accessible meeting rooms will be made available. There will also be spaces for staff to meet with visitors.

Council leader Cllr John Osman said: “Bringing in these changes will help us improve the experience of all visitors to County Hall."

Opening hours for visitors will be Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm, and from 8am to 4.30pm on Fridays.

Short stay accessible parking will still be available at the front of A-Block and B-Block for visitors.

The changes will save Somerset County Council £30,000 per year.

The authority has had to save more than £100 million over the last five years and expects to lose a further £40 million of direct government funding by 2020/2021.