IT IS perhaps not surprising that Witney Town Council is once again thinking of selling the Langdale Hall.

In 2011 the Witney Gazette revealed that the council was looking at the idea of selling the building, in Langdale Gate, because it was running at a loss.

The then mayor James Mills told us at the time that it had cost the council more than £60,000 a year over the previous three years.

Back then councillors also questioned the need for two similar public halls – Langdale Hall and the Corn Exchange – in the town centre.

It was forced to close the Corn Exchange in November 2011 due to serious problems with the building and reopening is still some way off.

On Monday night, councillors decided to investigate the value of Langdale Hall, with a view to potentially selling it in the future.

And the same issues have been raised this time around as in 2011.

Councillors again questioned if the town needs two central halls, especially when many former users of the Corn Exchange users have moved to the High Street Methodist Church or Henry Box School, rather than Langdale Hall.

An estate agent said in 2011 that if the site was sold for redevelopment for shops and flats, it could generate up to £1m.

Given that grants to revive the Corn Exchange may need to be matched by the council, hundreds of thousands of pounds will need to be found from somewhere.

It seems the town council has two options, getting a loan, or selling an asset.

We hate to see a public building sold, but the hall is underused and has an obvious replacement in the Corn Exchange.

We just hope that a full and proper consultation is conducted with residents and hall users before a decision is made.