Westmorland and Furness Council disposes of surplus buildings and land

The council disposed of buildings and pieces of land due to them being surplus to current needs.

Representatives chose to move on 12 assets which Westmorland and Furness Council owns at the full council meeting on September 24.

Most notable are the Nan Tait Centre in Barrow, which is set to be transferred to the charities which are based in the building, and the County Hall in Kendal, which was formerly used as a council chamber before becoming out of use.

The other 10 assets are: the Mintsfeet highways depot in Kendal, 22 Sutherland Street in Barrow, the former Low Fold Public Conveniences in Ambleside, the former Cartmel Public Conveniences, the former Milnthorpe Public Conveniences, 42a Grasmere Crescent in Kendal, land east of A595 Foxfield, Broughton in Furness, land at Long Lane/Billings Road, Dalton-in-Furness, land at Silver Street, Kirkby Stephen, and land adjacent to Wainwright House in Kendal.

Councillor Andrew Jarvis, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, voiced his support for the disposing of the assets.

Councillor Hazel Edwards of Hawcoat and Newbarns, Reform, raised concern at the July cabinet meeting as to how viable it would be for charitable organisations to look after the Grade II listed Nan Tait Centre.

She again raised this concern at the full council meeting, saying she felt it ‘totally unrealistic’ for charitable organisations to maintain it.

Cllr Edwards said: “A community transfer is not the answer and I ask you to reconsider this building being surplus to requirements. I would ask what happens when the organisations cannot fund this maintenance and insurance, etc.

“Could the cabinet then decide to sell the building?”

Councillor Beverly Morgan, acting leader of the Labour group and Ormsgill and Parkside representative, voiced support for the transfer of the building.

She said: “In contrast to Cllr Edwards, we are really pleased that the cabinet is making the Nan Tait building surplus to requirements, allowing the community asset transfer process to move forwards.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Women’s Community Matters and the other organisations based there to help shape its future and ensure it continues to be a valuable community resource, as it is now.”

Councillor Ali Jama of Upper Kent, Independent, raised concern about the disposing of the County Hall in Kendal, saying the Assembly Room at Kendal Town Hall, which is now used for large council meetings, is ‘not a council chamber’.

Councillor Giles Archibald of Kendal Strickland and Fell, Liberal Democrat, said the disposal of buildings was a good thing and should have moved more quickly, given the ‘extraordinary situation’ the council is in over the funding cuts from central government.

Councillor Will Clark of Windermere and Ambleside, Liberal Democrat, said the council should ‘get these buildings back into use’.

The motion was carried and the assets were disposed of.