A SCHEME urging Skipton Town Council to reclaim the town hall and run it as a community hall for the benefit of Skipton residents was put to members last week.

County Coun Mike Doyle suggested that instead of allowing the hall to deteriorate any further under the district council, the town council should stake a claim, buy back the hall and run it themselves.

Coun Doyle said: "It should be self evident that councillors from North, South and mid-Craven, who have their own town and village halls, will not look sympathetically on developing Skipton Town Hall."

He described the town hall as little more than an undercover market which was not serving Skipton residents as it should be. "I think it would benefit Skipton if the town owned the town hall," he said.

Coun Marcia Turner said that a survey done by the district council revealed the town hall would need many thousands of pounds spending on it. She added that Craven would probably be quite willing to give them it for a small amount.

Coun Paul Greaves added: "It is something I have always thought would be quite useful to the town council. I think it is something we could pursue."

The town council lost control of the building in 1974 during local government reorganisation. "I think Craven District Council thought they were on to a good thing when they took control," said Coun Dennis Hall.

He added he would support the investigation as to whether Skipton Town Hall could be bought and run through any grants available to it.

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