ROYAL Wootton Bassett’s picturesque 19th century civic centre building has been put on the market.

Estate agents Loveday have announced they were selling the Civic Centre, in Station Road, on behalf of the town council.

The 7,375sq ft building – used by local clubs and societies as well as for council business – has been offered up as a residential property, available for conversion into six two-bedroomed flats, and four one or two-bedroomed houses.

The council first announced its intention to sell the building in October 2013, after running the centre was no longer deemed economically viable.

Royal Wootton Bassett mayor Susan Hughes said: “Decisions like this are never easy for a building that represents our history and is much loved by councillors and residents alike.

“But as a council we would neither be serving our residents well nor providing the best value we are required to, by continuing to support the building with its high maintenance costs, low usage and substandard disabled facilities.

“The community groups formerly based within it are without doubt the foundation to life in our town, so we have given a plenty of warning and, where appropriate, offered direct assistance on the form of grants.

“We are required to seek best value and so, while seeking to establish residential value to the site, we have also worked with plannersto create a scheme that preserves and enhances the essential characteristics of this historic building for the future.”

Local groups now face an anxious time as they try to find alternative meeting places.

At the time of the decision a town council spokesman said: “The town council has for some while, been concerned that our Civic Centre, although much loved, does not perhaps provide the quality of community hall provision that most people would now expect.

“For this reason we have been working alongside our colleagues at Wiltshire Council to, on the one hand provide a new facility as part of the campus proposal and, on the other hand, to maximise the sale value of the Civic Centre so we may increase the contribution we make to the campus project to secure the best facilities.”

The council says all meetings will continue to be held at the Civic Centre until the end of March.

Lovedays were unavailable for comment. Inquiries should be made to Loveday on 01793 423344.