A restaurant, bar and homes are among the possible options for Southall Town Hall which could see it transformed after Ealing council announced plans for a new leaseholder to take over the building.

The local authority said the 19th century building, built in 1897, has been operating at a loss since it took on the management from Heathrow City Partnership in 2009.

But despite efforts to resolve the problem, it was decided at a cabinet meeting to market the building, with the new leaseholder set to maintain it.

The council said it will consider a change of use to incorporate a "range of potential town centre uses" on the ground floor, including work spaces, community facilities, a restaurant or bar and other potential leisure uses.

Changing the upper floors and any non-high street frontage would be "architecturally appropriate", the council said, although the council added 100% residential use would be "inappropriate".

The council said it is aiming to grant a long or shorter lease for the Grade II building, currently occupied by 16 tenants from 26 units, to avoid the £89,372 repair costs.

George Tywman, who has lived in Southall for 52 years, said he is disappointed the building will no longer be managed by the council because he fears what it will look like under new management.

The Dormers Wells Lane resident added: "We don't have any other historic buildings apart from the Manor House in Southall left.

"It should remain run by them (the council). The whole place (Southall) is now so overcrowded.

"There are so many people here that the whole place is congested."

Currently the building operates as an Enterprise Centre, providing space for businesses and organisations to rent.

A council spokesman said: "Southall Town Hall is a much-loved grade II listed building but it is in need of costly repairs and ongoing maintenance and is not meeting its full potential to support the exciting regeneration of Southall.

"We want to secure and revitalise the building in a way which is not a drain on ever diminishing council resources.

"We will work with the existing tenants to find alternative accommodation if that is necessary."

According to the council, it would not have been possible to have met the £89,372 repair cost without "significant" increases in service charges.

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