WEYMOUTH'S Old Town Hall will be sold to the highest bidder after councillors decided to release the freehold of the listed building.

After much debate from councillors at the Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's management committee they voted to offer the freehold of the hall rather than a 125-year lease.

The hall will now be re-marketed using external agents and offered as a building that could potentially converted into a range of commercial uses.

The key factor in this decision was that the sale would remove a substantial financial burden from the borough council.

The Grade II listed building was described by Coun Doug Hollings as a precious old building' that has been left to deteriorate and urged councillors to take some action on the building before it was too late.' He added: "We have tried very hard for years and failed to find a tenant another way so now the only way we are going to see restoration for the old town hall is to re-market the property and release the freehold."

Before the councillors voted council officers reported that they had been unsuccessfully trying to get a tenant for the hall for more than four months.

The hall on High West Street dates back to the 17th century and is currently in a state of deterioration with the roof and walls suffering water damage.

The overall restoration costs are estimated at £140,000.

If a buyer is interested in buying the property they will have a clawback in the contract in respect of a future residential development.

This means that if the site gets planning permission and turns into a residential dwelling, which could dramatically increase the value, the council will be entitled to a percentage of this profit. Any renovations will also be subject to getting planning permission from the borough council.

Coun Kate Wheller said: "I know this is a listed building but sometimes we can be so dogmatic about what we say people can and can't do in these old buildings that it can be offputting for potential buyers.

"That's why I am recommending that this is re-marketed and offered as freehold and I think the new user should be able to use the building for what ever they want to use it for without our objections."

Councillors added that the new tenants will not have to provide public access to the building.