Vacant town hall to be sold despite backlash

The sale of a historic town hall is set to go ahead despite a public outcry and a challenge from councillors.

Leeds City Council will proceed with putting the disused Pudsey Town Hall on the market as part of cost-saving measures.

Councillors had said there was not enough consultation for the decision, and more than 1,000 people signed a petition against it last summer.

However, the sale of the Victorian building was given the go-ahead by a council scrutiny board following a debate requested by opposition members.

The building has not been open to the public since 2016 and was only partially used by Pudsey and District Civic Society.

Conservative Andrew Carter said alternative uses for the building, which dates back to the late 1800s, had not been properly considered.

He told a Civic Hall meeting the sale would be an act of "civic vandalism", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Carter, who represents the nearby Calverley and Farsley ward, said: "I think the people of Pudsey will be bitterly disappointed if Pudsey Town Hall is sold."

Concerns were raised that historic memorabilia stored in the building could be lost if the sale went ahead.

Trish Smith, Reform UK councillor and director of the non-profit Pudsey Town Hall Community Interest Company, which has been trying to make use of the building, said: "We have credible partners and a workable operating model.

"Our plan is practically phased."

However, Labour-controlled Leeds City Council said the building cost too much to maintain and alternative options had been considered.

The proposed sale was debated on Monday as part of the council's "call-in" process, which can see executive decisions referred for re-consideration.

In a split decision, councillors instead voted to release the sale decision for implementation.

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