A DANGEROUS building has cast a shadow over Warminster's ancient town centre.

Were House was owned by builders R Butcher & Son, but became derelict when the firm went bankrupt in 1994.

The house, which is next door to Warminster Assembly Hall in the Western Car Park, has been made unsafe by vandalism and neglect. West Wiltshire District Council has now classified it as a dangerous building and is constantly monitoring its condition.

Developers have been interested in breathing new life into the site, but early plans have never been followed through. Town councillors want to push proposals forward, as they see it as a prime area for redevelopment.

Cllr Chris March said: "BUPA wanted to turn it into a nursing home several years ago, but this never happened. It is a terrible eyesore in one of the oldest areas of Warminster.

"Something needs to be done as we've worked hard to refurbish the assembly hall, but we need to enhance the whole area, as one building reflects on another."

Cllr March hopes councillors can find a solution at a future planning meeting.

"I'll be happy to see the area redeveloped as there is nothing else that can be done with it. I'd be happy with anything, even if it is knocked down. But any development must be in harmony with its surroundings."

The land has been earmarked for housing in the West Wiltshire District Plan as an ideal brownfield site. Cllr Andrew Davies would rather see Were House turned into flats than lose it forever. However, he warned that unless something was done soon it would crumble to the ground.

He said: "We could have another Bitham Mill on our hands. The longer is stands there the more dilapidated it will get."

Elizabeth Collyns, chairman of the Warminster Preservation Trust, has made inquiries about rescuing the building, but discovered that it had been sold to a developer.

She said: "It's in a terrible state and must be redeveloped, but no matter what happens Were Walk, which runs alongside, must be retained.

"Shoppers and traders used to be able to use it to walk from the Western Car Park to George Street.

"Now the path has been blocked as it's too dangerous to walk past the building."