PLANS to turn Witney’s Langdale Hall into a museum took a step forward with yesterday’s announcement that the building has been lodged as an Asset of Community Value.

But the decision could delay the town council’s planned sale of the building to fund the revamp of the town’s Corn Exchange in Market Square.

The decision gives community groups six months to say whether they want to buy the building, and a further six months to raise the £750,000 asking price for the hall.

Witney town councillor Roger Curry confirmed the council was already in the final stages of a deal to sell the building to private buyer, and said it was a shame the museum campaign couldn’t have come sooner.

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He said the delay in the sale could cause the council to face a funding gap for the refurbishment of the Corn Exchange but insisted the revamped building would open in May as planned.

The Witney Museum committee wants to move the museum from its current High Street location to the Langdale Hall, off Langdale Gate, and transform it into a military museum.

This would echo its original purpose as a territorial army drill hall when it opened in 1927.

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