Allerdale Council unveils plan to sell to Keswick's Moot Hall

About £180,000 is needed to repair the Grade II listed building in the heart of Keswick

A Grade II listed town hall in the Lake District could be sold to a charity as part of a council's cost-cutting plans.

Allerdale Borough Council says it will save about £8,000 a year by selling Moot Hall in Market Square, Keswick, which is in need of repair.

The Battersby Hall Trust, which aims to buy the hall, said it was "very keen" to keep the tourist information centre housed in the building.

Councillor Bill Jefferson said the sale made "economic and operational" sense.

The Lake District National Park Authority currently has an 11-year lease to use part of the building for the tourist information centre.

Mr Jefferson said there was "no danger" of losing the information centre or the activities that happen in the hall.

'In good hands'

He said: "It makes sense for Allerdale, it makes sense for Keswick, it is a Keswick asset, it's a national asset as well, but the important thing is, is that it's kept in the right hands.

"We're responsible for its future... as long as we're satisfied it's being placed in good hands for purposes that we would like it to be used for, then it makes economic and operational sense."

The trust, which exists to provide a community space for the people of Keswick, has been looking for a hall in the town since it sold the Battersby Hall in Church Street in 2012.

Secretary John Green said: "One of the aims of the hall is that it should be for the use of education and there is no greater use than the tourist information centre. So we are very, very delighted that they will stay."

If the move is approved by councillors next month, it is expected to be sold for about £200,000.