COUNCILLORS are still dithering over the future of their town hall.

Around 18 months ago Dartmouth Town Council voted to put the Guildhall on the market, with the aim

of selling it off and moving elsewhere.

Since then, despite inspections and valuations to see how much the building is worth and what it could be used for, no further movement on selling has been made.

Back in November the working group set up to rethink the council's whole approach to the Guildhall decided that perhaps selling was not the best option and that they would rather keep it.

At the council meeting on Monday night councillors were presented with the working group's current report, which recommended that the Guildhall ought not to be sold and that instead it should be retained and refurbished.

Councillors generally supported the plans to retain and refurbish the Guildhall, but said the report needed 'more flesh on these bones'.

In particular, they requested further details regarding potential costs. The cost of refurbishment has not yet been estimated, but is believed to be less than £150,000.

Cllr Francis Hawke, chairman of the town's finance committee, critised the report presented to them, stating that 'it creates more problems than answers' and 'has more holes than a colander'. He added: 'I think it really tells members nothing – we need concrete proposals and we need them to price those proposals.'

Cllr Dave Cawley, who sits on the working group, revealed that it could be at least another five or six months before the next stage is reached and costs for works are researched fully, which would further delay the process.

Despite this, Cllr Cawley said he felt 'buoyant' after the meeting and that he was left feeling 'heartened' by the response from the councillors with their proposed recommendation.

'It was never supposed to be a full-blown plan, but was just to investigate what the possibilities were,' explained Cllr Cawley. 'Selling it wouldn't work – it's a really old, grade II-listed building and there's problems with the change of use.

'We were just checking whether we were barking up the right tree.

'We have to do things scrupulously and figure out a way that the Guildhall can be saved.

'The goal is to endorse what we're doing and continue with it. We have to draw up firm plans, divide them up and decide what we're going to do and what it will cost; then we can present the next stage.'

The working group recommended to councillors that the office building be retained and let to an outside party to generate an ongoing income, meaning office staff would need to be rehoused elsewhere. The group suggested that part of the Clifton Room be portioned off for them, leaving the remainder available for lettings and income generation.

The recommendations suggest every part of the Guildhall should be dual purpose for hire or rent, including the council chamber and the mayor's parlour.

A rolling programme of improvements that need to be undertaken includes necessary electrical, heating and lighting work; refurbishment of the downstairs toilets, ballroom and upstairs kitchen; and that the bar area be removed with provision made elsewhere for a bar facility in the ballroom.