Community centre call for Ludlow Guildhall

Ludlow's former magistrates court should be turned into a community centre, it was said today.

Tony Pound, Ludlow town councillor for Rocksprings, said he believed the Guildhall in Mill Street should become a focal point for groups in the town.

Ideas already suggested for the 600-year-old building include creating a town hall with a council chamber and meeting rooms or turning it into a tourist attraction.

Its future is expected to be decided later this year by Ludlow Town Council. It was used as the magistrates court for many years until it was closed by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service last year as part of a nationwide closure scheme.

Councillor Pound said: "I think it would bring income in for the council and I believe after a while it would pay for itself or at least go a long way towards doing so.

"There is nowhere in the town the public can use for general functions. They have to use village halls in the surrounding area or rooms in pubs, and I think we need somewhere to be a focal point for these activities."