A LIFELINE has been given to a historic Winsford building that developers want to knock down to build affordable housing.

A planning application that outlines plans for 31 flats and car spaces where the vacant Top Ten Bingo hall resides on Dingle Lane was submitted last September.

Following the proposals Winsford Town Council applied for the building to be listed as an asset of community value (ACV) – which has now been granted.

Alan Warburton, Winsford Town Council clerk, said: “Members saw the drill hall as an iconic building and wished to see the building preserved and adapted to become a community facility serving to promote the rich heritage of our town.

"The council decided that a Community Right to Bid application be made requesting Cheshire West and Chester Council to list the former drill hall as an asset of community value.

“It is pleasing to note that the town council’s application has been approved and the owner has been notified accordingly.

“If the owner disagrees with the listing, he has eight weeks in which to ask for a review.”

In February an online petition, which was created by the community group Open Winsford, was created in support of the council’s application.

To date the petition has gained almost 1,400 signatures.

While the news that it has now been listed as an ACV will be welcomed by campaigners, it does not mean the building will still not be demolished.

Community groups, including the town council, will be given six months to raise finance, develop a business plan and make a bid to buy the asset on the open market.

Mr Warburton warned the community that any bid to purchase the Top Ten Bingo hall may not prove triumphant.

“Although the listing is good news, the right to bid only applies when an assets’ owner decides to dispose of it,” he said.

“There is no compulsion on the owner to sell it.

“The scheme does not give first refusal to the community group, i.e. it is not a community right to buy the asset, just to bid.

“This means that the local community bid may not be the successful one.”

At Winsford Town Council’s last meeting on Monday, April 18, councillors voted in favour of arranging a public meeting to discuss the plans going forward.