ALTON Town Council is seeking further clarification over a proposal by the public for the town’s Assembly Rooms to be registered as an asset of community value.

Concerned residents asked the question during an extraordinary full council meeting at the end of March called by Alton mayor Pam Jones to consider the outcome of an earlier electors’ meeting and to debate the future of the Assembly Rooms in public.

The question has been raised over why the building could not be registered as an asset of community value which, it was suggested, could result in savings on business rates and open the door to community grants, as well as improving public confidence as the status would protect its future use.

But at a meeting of the town council’s planning and transportation committee last Wednesday, Graham Hill pointed out that Alton’s Neighbourhood Plan listed all town council public buildings and open spaces and he was confident that having been included the Assembly Rooms was offered sufficient protection.

Town council leader Peter Hicks further stressed that the authority had “no intention whatsoever” of selling the Grade II Listed building.

It was agreed that further clarification on the appropriateness of possible future registration of Alton Assembly Rooms as an asset of community value should be sought from East Hampshire District Council.