Areas of the Ealing Town Hall have been put out for lease by the council in a bid to boosts its "poor condition" and save millions of pounds.

A spokesperson at Ealing Council announced it has invited offers to rent areas of the building, including the hall, and entered the market on November 16.

Options such as a boutique hotel, restaurant, conference venue or office space have been suggested as possible usage.

The spokesperson maintained that remaining parts of the building would still be used by the council for meetings, ceremonies and other community purposes.

“The Town Hall has enormous potential"

Ealing Council leader and Labour councillor Julian Bell said: “The Town Hall is a stunning building which we are determined to preserve but internally it is in poor condition and we need to give it a secure future in a way which is not a drain on ever reducing council resources.

“The Town Hall has enormous potential and we want it to accommodate a range of community and commercial activities which contribute to Ealing’s economic and cultural life.”

According to Ealing Council, the new uses will allow its function rooms, such as the the Victoria Hall, to be refurbished.

The Town Hall was put out for lease on November 16, but the council said it would still own the hall and occupy its eastern wing.

Conservative councillor Joy Morrissey, who has used the building for various meetings before, said she encouraged preserving Ealing's heritage but was fearful residents would not have a say in its future.

She added that, despite the council's claim groups will still use rooms in the eastern wing, she feared they could be forced out in the long-term future.

She added: "I think it is important to Ealing's heritage but I want to make sure residents are consulted.

"Residents don't always feel their views are taken into account."

The cost-cutting measures are designed to protect the building and save "millions of pounds" in running costs, due in part to how the cost of maintaining the outside of the building and the majority of the interior would be covered by the new leaseholder.

Work on the Town Hall could start in spring 2017, subject to planning permission, and the council has promised to work with local groups who hire the hall to find alternative venues during refurbishment works.

According the the council, the selected occupants will be required to to refurbish the council-retained civic end and restore the exterior of the building.

The council will decide where any surplus money will be spent.