ANGLESEY Council has put its former headquarters up for sale, with an asking price of £150,000.
The Grade II listed Llangefni Shire Hall, which dates back to the Victorian era, currently houses the island’s registry office and Llangefni Town Council chambers.
But with the authority facing a financial black hole, the building which acted as the council’s first headquarters after the administrative capital was moved from Beaumaris, has now been placed on the market.
Members of Llangefni Town Council, who discussed the sale during last night’s monthly meeting, considered the possibility of buying it, despite its listed status meaning that a change of use could prove troublesome for developers.
At present, the town council leases the left hand side of the building from the local authority, also housing the chamber and clerk’s offices.
Cllr Llinos Jones said: “Losing the building is something that I couldn’t even contemplate. It’s a part of our history.
“There are a lot of questions that need to be answered, but we should at least look into the possibility of buying it ourselves.”
But Cllr Dylan Rees urged a more cautious approach, adding: “We don’t know what the plans are for it yet.
“It may be vastly improved. We just don’t know.”
Cllr Victor Hughes added: “The cost of buying the building is one thing, but its ongoing maintenance costs is another.”
According to its listing, the building covers almost 15,000 square feet with parking space at the rear for approximately 14 cars.
Built in a decorative Jacobethan style with classical detail and a pitched slate roof, the main part of the hall was built in 1899 by O M Roberts & sons of Porthmadog to a design by Lloyd Williams of Denbigh at a cost of £4,453.
This was later extended by the addition of a similar styled wing to the right, with office accommodation built to the rear in 1912, designed by Joseph Owen.
A spokesman for Anglesey Council said: “Council officers are considering options for the future of the Llangefni Shire Hall building and part of this process is open advertising.
“However, no decision has yet been made about the future of the building. The existing uses of the building will be carefully considered as we assess any proposal for the site.”
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