MALMESBURY has been given just three months to come up with plans to redevelop the town hall or it could be sold off.

A £1.2 million redevelopment scheme, which had taken five years to create, was thrown out by North Wiltshire District Council last week after complaints the plans cut the community space in the hall by half.

Portfolio holder at the district council, Ross Henning, said it was up to Malmesbury come up with an agreement.

He said the strict deadline had been set ensure a swift resolution to the lumbering problem was found.

But he warned options such as selling the town hall to developers and moving the town council to smaller premises would be considered if a solution was not found speedily.

He said: "I hope it doesn't come to that and we can carry forward a plan for the town hall.

"I don't think we would be that cruel to create a strict deadline. It is difficult, we want to put a deadline to focus people but then if the deadline is not real, the plan will start to drift."

If a new plan that the town and district councils agree with is found, the town hall would be sold for £1 to those responsible for the development, said Mr Henning.

The hall provides the only major community space in Malmesbury and groups like the Athelstan Players, who regularly use it for performances, were unhappy with the district council's decision.

Athelstan Players' member Christine Mace said: "I think it is just terrible. Just three months to come up with a plan after it has been going on for years is not very long.

"I do feel strongly about this, it is a wonderful community hall. I don't know what we would do without it."

The town hall, an amalgamation of four different aged buildings, is in urgent need of repair according to Malmesbury Mayor Charles Vernon.

Leaks in the roof, and an old plumbing and electric system were just some of the problems the town council, which manages the building, had to contend with.

In addition, he said, £500,000 was needed to make the town hall compliant with disabled access legislation.

The town council has made it clear it does not want to take over ownership of the building.

Instead, a trust set up by the town, involving many local interest groups and headed by Abbey House Gardens' co-owner Ian Pollard, had begun to draw up plans.

Mr Pollard said he hoped a scheme would be ready for presentation to the district council within three months.

He said: "We are looking to demolish the existing building and have a complete rebuild in which we can meet everyone's requirements."

He added money for the build could be raised from a residential development at the top of the new building.

The trust is waiting for costing from a quantity surveyor before moving forward.