EMERGENCY safety work in Tavistock Town Hall costing some £3,000 was sanctioned by the town council this week after experts condemned the entire ceiling as unsafe.
Last week one of the 40 panels which make up the ceiling collapsed, forcing closure of the building.
Town clerk Col Roger Howard told councillors at this week's meeting the ceiling was inspected last Friday.
'They tested these panels and out of six, five were condemned immediately as a hazard,' said Col Howard.
He said West Devon's conservation officer and planners had insisted the Listed building's entire ceiling would have to be replaced 'like for like' with lathe and plaster, which could cost up to £80,000.
But as an interim measure, a steel mesh, three-layer safety net, almost like a mock ceiling, could be installed, enabling the hall to re-open.
'It will be perfectly safe — if the company can come in next week, it takes three days to put up and then we can open again,' said Col Howard.
Councillors agreed the measure would be cost-effective as a short-term solution — the long-term future of the ceiling will be debated at a future meeting.