Sell-off plans for town hall in £1m council savings drive

Members of the local authority’s policy committee moved a step closer to selling off the Grade II listed building, which is in a conservation area, after agreeing to explore the option to sell the landmark as the council’s “preferred option”.

A spokesman for Craven Council said: “The building is going to be put on the market. Any offer the council receives will be considered by its policy committee before its sale is agreed.”

A public consultation held last year revealed almost 74 per cent of those who responded backed transferring the town hall to a trust, with 21.7 per cent in favour of a commercial long-term let.

According to Craven Council, the town hall costs the local authority £38,000 to run each year.

The building houses Settle Tourist Information Centre, Craven Council customer services, North Yorkshire County Council’s youth service project called the Cellar Project as well as shops, office accommodation and a council chamber.

Craven Council said that it would find another home for the tourist information centre, which it runs.

It is estimated that the building, which lies at the heart of Settle and was built in 1832, needs at least £1m of renovation to bring it up to a “suitable standard for use”.

The council, which is facing a cut in Government funding of around £1m for the next financial year, said it wants to give the building a “sustainable future.”

In December the council agreed to transfer Skipton Town Hall to a trust or similar organisation.