URGENT repair work is underway to patch up the roof of the Mechanics' Institute the first major refurbishment in the building's 149-year history.

Workers have started to remove every slate roof tile from the Grade II* listed building. Each will be cleaned and eventually put back.

Meanwhile the entire roof structure will be insulated with felt and underpinned with batons to keep the material in place.

The work, which started under the watchful eye of English Heritage inspectors, is expected to take at least two months and cost tens of thousands of pounds.

When owner Mathew Singh purchased the building a year ago, the Mechanics' was being rotted by the elements. And while emergency repair work was carried out to seal up the windows and batten down the doors, the winter weather has started to take its toll.

Mr Singh, 40, said: "The building is gradually getting worse and the roof is starting to leak because of niggling little holes. What we have started to do is clean up the tiles and put them back and any that are broken have been replaced. This is the first time the roof has been felted and I hope this demonstrates my intention to bring the building back to life. People have said I'm just here to make a fast buck. Well that's certainly not the case."

Last month Mr Singh threatened to walk away from the troubled building after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott entered the debate surrounding its future.

Swindon planners had been due to vote on whether to allow Mr Singh permission to build a 118-bedroom hotel, restaurant, apartments and health club, but Swindon Council's planning department received an 11th-hour fax from the Government, telling them to not to grant permission.

The good news is that Mr Singh has started a fresh dialogue with English Heritage the organisation that will ultimately decide whether to allow him listed building consent, which he requires to continue with his plans.

The building in Emlyn Square was formerly a community centre for workers at the nearby Great Western Railway and included a grand reading room and library.

Martha Parry, spokeswoman for the New Mechanics' Institute Preservation Trust, said: "We are glad this work is being done, but really question the point of piecemeal work on a building that needs a complete programme of restoration."

Giles Sheldrick