Purchase wrangle over old hotel

A Victorian landmark in south Shropshire is at the centre of a dispute over its future ownership.

The district council has agreed to use its legal powers to buy the Temperance Hotel in Craven Arms on behalf of the county council.

But its owners say they have not been correctly notified of the authority's intentions.

The building, built in 1865, was empty for several years and is currently being used as a temporary shop.

District councillors are to meet on 8 January to debate whether to make a compulsory purchase order.

Shropshire County Council hopes to renovate the building to provide a base for its Countryside Unit, offices for the public and private sector, a crèche, community drop-in and information centre.

It's a very prominent building on the A49 which runs through Craven Arms - the building and its surroundings are a significant eyesore Graham Biggs, South Shropshire District Council

Graham Biggs, chief executive of South Shropshire District Council, said: "It's a very prominent building on the A49 which runs through Craven Arms. The building and its surroundings are a significant eyesore."

He said as the building was within the Craven Arms regeneration scheme it would be "unfortunate" if it was not dealt with too.

But he said negotiations with the owners had proved unsuccessful.

He said funding had been secured for the project from Advantage West Midlands, the county council and a European programme.

However one of the trustees, Tim Summerfield said they had not had a legal approach from the county council about buying the property.

He said a challenge to any purchase order was "more than likely" but said a meeting would have to be held with the trust's solicitors.