By John Baron
Campaigners say Leeds City’s Council’s decision to ‘explore options to sell’ historic Pudsey Town Hall ‘risks stripping the heart out of Pudsey’.
Cash-strapped Leeds City Council has confirmed that it could sell Pudsey Town Hall, which dates back to 1879, to raise money as its seeks to balance its books.
Campaigners, Pudsey’s councillors and local residents have reacted with concern over the decision.
A petition has been launched, and the decision has also sparked a bid to set up a town council for Pudsey.
For over four years, Pudsey Town Hall CIC — a volunteer-led, not-for-profit group made up of members of the local community — says it has worked to create a robust, fully costed business plan to revive the building as a community asset.
In partnership with Pudsey & District Civic Society, the CIC’s vision was to bring the Town Hall back into daily community use, safeguard its Edwardian council chamber and historic interiors, and provide a permanent home for local groups.
A Pudsey Town Hall CIC spokesperson said: “Pudsey deserves better than a short-term cash grab. The CIC calls on Leeds City Council to reconsider this critical decision and act in the best interests of the people it serves. The fight for Pudsey Town Hall — and its place at the heart of our community — is far from over.
“As a CIC that has worked tirelessly for four years to create a robust business plan to take on the Town Hall, and to bring in partners such as Pudsey & District Civic Society to shape its future, we despair at this lack of foresight, which could potentially see the Town Hall sold to a developer.
“We do not believe this to be a correct decision. Our offer is still on the table.”
Campaigners say the Town Hall is a complex heritage building requiring specialist knowledge to manage and maintain.
The spokesperson added: “The loss of the Town Hall to private developers risks stripping the heart out of Pudsey. Beyond its physical grandeur, the building represents more than bricks and mortar; it embodies local identity, civic memory, and shared history. Once lost, the Edwardian council chamber, civic archives, and opportunities for community use cannot be replaced.
“We believe that the Town Hall has a major role to play at the heart of our community,” the CIC emphasises. “It has so much to offer and the potential to transform and invigorate our town centre. The alternative is losing the heart of the building along with its stunning history. We are prepared to take it on as outright owners if need be, to bring it back into use for you.”
The CIC is calling on Leeds City Council to reconsider its decision.
Leeds City Council’s statement
A spokesperson from Leeds City Council said: “The council can confirm it has decided to explore available options for the sale of Pudsey Town Hall.
“We recognise that this course of action will come as a disappointment to all those involved with the Community Interest Company (CIC) that has been seeking to take on responsibility for the building by means of a long-term lease.
“The CIC’s proposals for a lease arrangement and the future operation of the site have been carefully considered by the council over a substantial period of time and, although the group’s overall vision was seen as positive, we have concerns about the viability of its business case.
“Our concerns – some of which relate to the CIC’s ability to meet the significant likely costs of bringing a building of this size and age back into use – were communicated to the group in late May.
“We would like to express our thanks to the CIC for the time, energy and ambition it has invested in the development of its proposals.
“The decision to now explore a possible sale has not been taken lightly but, given our well-documented financial challenges, we must continuously assess all options for our city-wide portfolio of properties.
“Those same challenges mean we are not in a position to indefinitely sustain the cost of maintaining a vacant building, which for the last financial year alone ran into five figures.”
What the councillors say
Pudsey Conservative councillors Simon and Dawn Seary have also voiced their concerns – and yesterday announced they were looking into the possibility of setting up a town council for Pudsey, which could be based at the Town Hall.
Cllr Simon Seary told WLD: “The CIC has had four years to resolve this issue, but without success. They have also failed to properly engage with the community during that time.
“We want the Town Hall to remain open and we will do everything we can to save the Town Hall. We feel Pudsey deserves more of a local voice. That’s why we are exploring the possibility of setting up a town council for Pudsey.
“Decisions about Pudsey should be made in Pudsey – not at Leeds Civic Hall, because quite clearly the right decisions aren’t being made.
“We believe the only way forward is the creation of a Pudsey Town Council. It’s an idea we’ve been pondering for quite some time, looking at what other towns, like Otley, Morley and Horsforth, have that we do not.
“A town council would give us the power to take control of our key local assets: the Town Hall, our parks, and community spaces. Pudsey lost its voice when the borough ceased in 1974 and was absorbed into Leeds and I think it’s time to return in a sense to a similar model.
“We won’t give up on Pudsey Town Hall. But it’s now clear we need a stronger local voice to protect what matters to our community.”
Cllr Seary hoped the town council would be non-political.
Pudsey Councillor Trish Smith (Reform) is also a leading member of the CIC.
She said: “Whilst it was a disappointing blow for LCC to inform us about their plans to sell Pudsey Town Hall, they did acknowledge the significant work carried out by the Pudsey Town Hall CIC.
“Having spent years working on this project, under extremely difficult circumstances, I’m still incredibly hopeful for a positive outcome for our community and am still very much working towards this. We have a fully costed business plan based on community engagement, community needs, and aspirations for our town.”
Cllr Smith argued setting up a Town Council in Pudsey was not a ‘realistic solution’.
“A Town Council would be expensive to set up, add another costly layer of local government for our residents to pay for and still wouldn’t have any real decision making power,” she claimed.
“If permission were even granted to form, it would likely take several years and would be way too late to save our beloved Town Hall.
“If the lease negotiations hadn’t been frustrated the way they were, they would have been completed by now.
“I have worked tirelessly to ensure this iconic building didn’t become a political football, but remained front and centre as a community asset. I just hope the community can come together, support Pudsey Town Hall CIC and ultimately save this historic site for future generations.”
Petition
A petition against the closure has also been launched by local resident Chris Farleigh.
He wrote: “This is more than just bricks and mortar. Pudsey Town Hall is a symbol of our civic pride, our local heritage, and our community’s identity. It has hosted weddings, meetings, community groups, performances — and stood as a visible reminder of Pudsey’s independent spirit.
“This is unacceptable. We will not allow this vital piece of Pudsey’s history and community infrastructure to be lost due to inaction and broken promises.”
Pudsey Town Hall used to house Pudsey Magistrates’ Court, as well as the housing office and other council departments.
What would establishing a town council mean for Pudsey? Read more here.
- WLD has been following local and national government cuts in West Leeds via its Cutswatch series here.