WEDDING couples could soon be tying the knot in the historic Haslemere Town Hall if a plan to register the town council chamber for marriages gets the go-ahead.

The scheme is part of an overall plan to increase private function lettings of the council chamber in an effort to swell the town council coffers.

But town councillor Ted Orchard advised a cautious approach to letting out the town hall and suggested it was "highly selective".

Harking back to when the town hall lost its precious clock, stolen many years ago, he believed the scheme might bring other problems.

"It could lead to keys being copied and given to potential burglars," he warned, adding that a caretaker would have to be on site.

Discussing other issues relating to a draft document for a forward management plan, drawn up by clerk Mike O'Neil, town councillors decided at their finance and general purposes committee meeting last week to set up a small working party to look at the details ahead of next month's meeting.

It was agreed that the working party should consist of Michael Foster, Stephen Mulliner, Barbara Jeffers and Michael Barne, who will discuss a number of issues raised in the consultation document.

Under discussion is a makeover for the council chamber including new decor, carpets and presentation boards.

Also being considered are plans to revitalise the town with the help of other bodies, to fill vacant shops in the town by the end of 2001 and to encourage business development in Wey Hill, Beacon Hill and Hindhead.

Also under the microscope are ways to improve public toilets, car parking, signing within the town council area, and recyling facilities.

There are a number of initiatives to help streamline the work of the council, among them a review of staffing needs, the greater use of e-mail to cope with the estimated 900 telephone enquiries it receives each year together 1,200 letters, as well as improving lines of communication with Waverley Borough Council and Surrey County Council.