Public urged to support change of ownership for Town Hall

Skipton Town Council is urging people to back its attempt to take over Skipton Town Hall – which could be put on the market.

The historic building has been deemed a “huge drain” on Craven District Council’s resources and selling it for commercial use is among a list of options under consideration.

Skipton Town Council is keen to play a key role in running the building and is involved in negotiations about its future.

Councillor Paul English, leader of Skipton Town Council, said: “Skipton Town Hall, in our opinion, has been left to fester and decay. It’s not in great condition. We, the town council, think we could do a better job - it is a potential jewel. We think the potential is there. It is an asset to the town but it’s not fulfilling its potential at the moment.”

Last year members of the public passed a motion at a packed town council meeting to say they wanted the town council to protect and enhance the public ownership of the building, which is in a conservation area.

Coun English said: “For the past eight months we have been in negotiations both with the district council and with people who we are looking at setting up a trust to run it in partnership with the town council.

“What worries me is that if a private bidder comes in and makes a high offer, the district council would be in a difficult position to say ‘no’ to that offer.”

According to Craven District Council: “The building is a huge drain on district council resources and needs very substantial investment to bring it up to just a reasonable standard.”

It says: “Given the present depressed economic climate and anticipated Government budget cuts of up to 40 per cent, the district council needs to examine what options there are for its future use.”

Possible options include: Splitting the town hall into two distinct buildings to be let or sold commercially and/or kept for community use.

Craven Council is also considering retaining the town hall as one building which can be sold or let for commercial use, and placing the building in a trust to be either sold outright or leased.

It is holding a drop-in event in the town hall between 2pm and 8pm on October 21, where people will be able to share their views on the building’s future.

Coun English and Coun Andrew Rankine, deputy leader of the town council, are urging people to make their views known.

Coun Rankine said: “We are keen to play our part in taking over the town hall. We are keen to do that in whichever way is beneficial to the people of Skipton. We feel that the town hall is a magnificent resource for the people of Skipton.”

The listed building was built in 1862 and is still home to some Craven Council services, the Craven Museum and Gallery as well as the town council chamber with its “mouseman” furniture made by Robert Thompson of Kilburn. The main hall is used for concerts and collectors’ fairs.

Retaining the status quo is not an option, according to a report put before Craven District Council’s policy committee last year.

The report said that the town hall was a drain on resources and in immediate need of significant investment.

Craven Council retaining the town hall and bringing it up to the required standards was not “considered a realistic option” said the report.

People who are unable to attend the drop in event can send their views on the future of the town hall by email to [email protected].

Craven councillors are expected to make a decision on which option to back at a meeting in December.

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