Landmark under the hammer
9:15am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Your Town
THE former Kearsley Town Hall is to go under the hammer.
The derelict building in Bolton Road, is to be auctioned off at Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground on Wednesday, February 22.
The building has been empty for more than three years after being used by the probation service since the mid-1970s.
Since it has been unoccupied it has become a hot spot for anti-social behaviour and vandalism.
Three years ago arsonists set fire to the building, damaging the roof. Pugh Auctions, based in Newtonle- Willows, describes the 5,828 sq ft building as a “detached two-storey former town hall in need of refurbishment throughout”.
A guide price for the auction has not yet been set.
The building looked like it was going to get a revamp last year after developer Hamill Investments was granted planning permission to convert it into offices, before the deal fell through.
Brian Tetlow, chairman of Bolton and District Civic Trust, said: “The town hall should have been looked after better.
“It’s very typical. Unfortunately people get the impression the council look after their properties but very often we find they don’t.
“Ideally the facility could have been retained for the benefit of local people for communication with the council or evening classes or for beneficial uses for the community. If that hasn’t been the case it shouldn’t have been neglected.”
A Bolton Council spokesman said: “The former Kearsley Town Hall has been vacant for some time and is surplus to requirements.
“A tendering exercise had been undertaken and a developer was initially identified to refurbish the premises as managed offices, but negotiations have been lengthy and the sale has not yet been completed.
“Given the deteriorating condition of the building, a decision has now been taken to offer the premises for sale at auction.”
