CASH-strapped council chiefs are being urged by the Radcliffe Renewal Advisory Committee to set a 12 month deadline to find an alternative use for the redundant Town Hall. And time may be running out for the great white elephant as the threat of a death sentence hangs over its head.

Committee members say that if no satisfactory partnership arrangements have been established for an alternative use of the property, then Radcliffe Town Hall should be demolished.

The no compromise attitude follows years of debate over the town's former civic centre which now lies empty and surplus to local authority requirements.

Last year independent consultants revealed the lowest cost to breathe new life back into the building would be £1million for office accommodation.

Conversion into a community heritage centre would be as high as £1.3million.

Radcliffe Renewal Advisory Committee Chairman Kevin Scarlett, said about the now vandal-stricken hall:

"Because of the changing role of local government, Radcliffe Town Hall has now been surplus to our requirements for some time and we do not envisage ever needing it in the future.

"We have tried on numerous occasions to find alternative uses but to no avail and now we believe the time has come to set a deadline over the fate of the building.

"Basically, we still hope to attract some kind of partnership agreement which would see the Town Hall brought back into use but, if that is not going to happen, then we cannot go on as we have.

"The Town Hall, although no longer in use, has become a constant drain on our resources.

"A lot of money has been spent over the years trying to keep it secure but, there has been extensive vandalism and theft which has left the building in a very poor general state of repair.

"It is sad to see a property of this type gradually deteriorate but as a council we have no use for it. Because of its design, it is not really suitable for modern use, particularly with its lack of access for people with disabilities."

The Renewal Committee's decision will go to a meeting of the Land And Economic Sub-Committee for confirmation.

If approved, then the clock will begin ticking on Radcliffe Town Hall's future.

Councillor Scarlett added: "We sincerely hope that someone does come forward to save what is part of Radcliffe's heritage but being realistic, we as a council cannot afford to do it on our own.

"We would rather see the property demolished and an eyesore removed than let it deteriorate further and continue to act as a magnet for vandals and petty thieves."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.