A COMMUNITY hall in the centre of Witney could be sold for redevelopment.

Witney Town Council is considering selling Langdale Hall in Market Square.

A final decision has not yet been made, but councillors have admitted it is an option they have been forced to look at because of running costs.

The town council has refused to rule out the possibility of selling it to a developer.

However, users of the Langdale Hall have said it would be a great shame if it were to close.

A review of all the town’s halls is currently taking place at the council — but Langdale Hall is the main focus.

The building is in a bad state of repair and is particularly in need of a new boiler — it only has one of two working at present.

Keeping Langdale Hall open cost the council £61,916 in 2009/10 — with an income of £39,754 and an expenditure of £101,670 — and the Corn Exchange cost a further £60,356. The combined total is 13.3 per cent of the council’s precept — its main source of income.

A Witney estate agent, who did not want to be named, said, if the hall were sold as an entertainment facility, it could reap £500,000 for the council.

But he said if it were turned into four shops on the ground floor and ten flats above, which he thought was realistic, it could be worth up to £1m.

The hall does not have a restrictive covenant on it, meaning it does not have to be kept as a facility for the benefit of local residents.

Mayor James Mills, who sits on the town’s public halls committee, said: “The town centre halls have provided excellent service for the people of Witney over many years, but now both are tired and in need of refurbishment.

“Over the past few years, increased competition has led to a change in usage of our halls, which is why we are reviewing them objectively to see if there is scope for rationalisation and improved value for the taxpayers of Witney.

“Langdale Hall has cost in excess of £60,000 for each of the last three years and will require large capital sums to be spent on it in the near future.”

He added: “In the event of Langdale Hall being sold, it would be our intention that any proceeds raised would be put towards improving and refurbishing the Corn Exchange.”

Councillor Peter Dorward, also a member of the public halls committee, confirmed selling the hall had been discussed.

He said: “If I were running Langdale Hall as a business I would be quite worried about the kind of money being spent on it. But if money isn’t spent on it, it runs the risk of being condemned for being unfit for use and being unsafe.”

When asked whether the council would consider selling to a developer, Mr Dorward said it was too early to say.

But he added: “I would not like to see more shops and houses there.”

A public consultation will take place before a decision is made.

Coralie Green, who runs modern jive class Jive+ at the hall, said: “It would be a great shame for us if it was closed. We would miss it hugely because it’s a good size and it has a great floor.”

Sarah Sydney-Sheppard, who runs dance-based fitness class Jazzercise from the hall, said: “It worries me because I wonder where I will end up putting that class.”