WATCHET'S former Council Chamber building on Swain Street will be going up for sale for around £65,000.

The Town Council has moved into the new offices at the Boat Museum and Visitor Centre, and has being discussing the next steps for the old Council Chamber.

At Watchet Town Council on Monday night, chairman of the Future of Council Chamber working group Cllr John Irven explained that interest in turning the building into a museum had fallen through due to financial difficulties.

In February 2015, the council resolved to move into the revamped Visitor Centre and Boat Museum, and earlier this year undertook a consultation with residents on what to do with the former Council Chamber.

The results were that 46 per cent urged the council to sell the building, 36 per cent said the council to look into the possibility of a community group taking it over, while 18 per cent were in favour of the council refurbishing the building from its own resources.

Cllr Irven said: "The Market House Museum showed an interest in moving into the building, and it was agreed that WTC would find out the finances of various options, selling the building as it is, selling the building following refurbishment or renting out the building.

"The council found it could not afford to repair and refurbish the building from its reserves without taking out a loan.

"Although the museum and Watchet Conservation Society were in favour of the building remaining in community use, once the costs were worked out the Museum said it does not have the funds available or the manpower to run the Museum without the help of the council.

"With the Museum plan falling through, an independent external consultant recommended that the council sell the building as is, and it will go on the market for £65k."

Cllr David Westcott said he was 'extremely disappointed' at the decision.

"I really wanted that building to go into community use. I have spent 22 years attending meetings as a councillor in that building and it meant a lot to me, so I am sad that it will no longer be used by the community," Cllr Westcott said.

"I just feel with the progression at Hinkley, the funds are being released for community projects like this, seems a shame that it will just be sold. If there had was enough willpower it could be saved but it doesn’t appear possible. Unfortunately, although I do not like it I do not see another way forward."