Petition opposes sale of vacant town hall

Leeds City Council says the vacant building costs a five-figure sum each year to maintain

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition opposing the proposed sale of an empty town hall building.

Leeds City Council has confirmed it is looking at options for the sale of Pudsey Town Hall.

The authority said it was costing tens of thousands of pounds a year to maintain the vacant building, which dates back to the late 19th Century.

An online petition calling for a halt to the sale and public consultation on its future has been signed by 1,050 people.

"This is more than just bricks and mortar," the petition's website states.

"Pudsey Town Hall is a symbol of our civic pride, our local heritage, and our community's identity."

The petition also calls for the creation of a Pudsey Town Council to take on political decision-making in the town.

Built in 1880, the Robin Lane building was the headquarters of Pudsey Urban District Council from 1912 to1974.

'Financial challenges'

Non-profit Pudsey Town Hall Community Interest Company (CIC) has been drawing up plans for the future use of the building, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A spokesperson for the city council, which must save more than £100m this financial year, said: "The council can confirm it has decided to explore available options for the sale of Pudsey Town Hall.

"The decision to now explore a possible sale has not been taken lightly but, given our well-documented financial challenges, we must continuously assess all options for our city-wide portfolio of properties."

They added the council could not indefinitely sustain the costs of maintaining a vacant building "which for the last financial year alone ran into five figures".

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