ABINGDON Guildhall’s future has not been secured despite a much heralded £1.2m deal, a councillor has warned.

Conservative Matthew Barber hit out after the Liberal Democrat-run Vale of White Horse District Council gave the hall to Abingdon Town Council along with the £1.2m to improve it.

The district hoped the move would save cash following a 16 per cent cut to its government settlement.

But Mr Barber said: “There is no guarantee that the Guildhall will be saved. The town has not made clear how it will run it any more effectively than the district.”

He said: “The story of the Guildhall is one of failures and mistakes.

“For many years the Vale has dithered about making the changes and improvements that were needed to make the facility viable.

“Instead we have plodded on, with no serious plan, until the burden of the costs led the executive to drop it like a hot potato.”

The town council said the Abbey Close building, which cost the Vale £100,000 a year to run, could make money if used more.

Leader Lesley Legge said: “We have negotiated a very fair deal with the district council and this is a good example of the move to devolve power closer to the community.”

Richard Webber, Vale executive member for civic halls, said the Guildhall can now be “best run to the benefit of those that love it most”.