South Swindon Parish Council has triggered a six-month moratorium for the sale of Apsley House Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.
The Old Town building, once home to a veritable selection of ancient and rare artefacts and objects, has sat empty and closed for a number of months after being ruled too costly to maintain.
It was then announced in June that the building, owned by Swindon Borough Council, would be put up for sale.
But South Swindon Parish Council has expressed a formal interest in purchasing the building to their Borough Council counterparts on July 27, commencing a moratorium of six months from the date of notification.
A Grade II listed building, Aspley House was built between 1830 and 1840, initially used as a residence before becoming a museum and art gallery.
The building is listed as an Asset of Community Value, so the local authority must legally offer it to groups around the town, who have six weeks to trigger a moratorium, which South Swindon Parish Council have done.
The Parish Council now have six months to put together a bid for the property.
Chris Watts, chair of South Swindon Parish Council said: “I was pleased to have proposed the motion to the Parish Full Council meeting and also pleased to have received unanimous cross-party support.
"The moratorium will give time and space for the Parish Council to survey the structure, investigate the potential of the facility and produce a feasibility study and business proposal."
Neil Hopkins, chair of leisure and amenities for the parish, added: “In the five years that the Parish has been in existence we have been committed, not only to protecting and renovating heritage assets, but ensuring that these assets are put back into use.
“By triggering the moratorium we would seek to apply the same values and principles to Apsley House and will be working hard to attain this goal if indeed it is feasible for the Parish to take on this property.”
This news has been met warmly by the Save Our Museum and Gallery campaign group
A spokesperson said: "We fully support the South Swindon Parish Council in its bid to bring Apsley House back into community use. This landmark-listed building, which belongs to the people of Swindon, has been closed to the public for almost two and a half years.
"If it is sold into private ownership there will be no guarantees about its future."
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