A music venue will NOT be listed as an asset of community value despite being steeped in rock & roll history.
Wilton Hall in Bletchley hosted top bands in the 1960s, including the Rolling Stones, Adam Faith, Gene Vincent and Marty Wilde.
But this week Milton Keynes Council decided not to give community groups a privileged right to bid for the Wilton Avenue venue, which closed in February 2019.
Listing does not give a right to buy such a venue, but gives campaigners time to get the money together to make a bid if it is put on the market.
Council leader Pete Marland decided, at a delegated decisions meeting on Tuesday, to back his officials who recommended that a listing should not take place.
Cllr Marland (Lab, Wolverton) was told that West Bletchley Council, which had applied for the special status, had not proved a business case.
The site had been the subject of a planning application to demolish it and build six new homes. MK Council rejected it, and was supported in its decision at a planning appeal.
At the moment the site is vacant and disused but it has a long history. Meetings could be called to decide its future.
West Bletchley Council told the borough that it was originally built as an assembly hall for the codebreakers at Bletchley Park.
It was owned by Milton Keynes Council until the year 2000, when it was sold to the late Tony Manni.
West Bletchley Council argued in its submission that there is a need for a large community hall.
“We believe that with the right marketing and management that there is a viable future for the building,” wrote Liam Costello, deputy clerk, in the council’s submission.
The building is currently owned by the family of Mr Manni, who died of cancer on April 30, last year. They ran it for 20 years.
Mr Manni had told the Milton Keynes Citizen that times had moved on, and his family agreed with that.
In their counter-submission, the family said: “It was a difficult decision emotionally for Wilton Hall to cease trading.
“As our accounts clearly demonstrate, the business required significant investment and commitment to become successful and profitable.”
In their submission the family said they would “welcome the opportunity to meet and debate this matter further with the parish council.”
Cllr Allan Rankine (Cons, Bletchley Park), who has campaigned to keep Wilton Hall open, said he would welcome a meeting that brought everyone together to find an acceptable solution.
And campaigner Cllr Elaine Wales (Lab, Bletchley Park) said: “We are working on other ways to save the site from development and I’ll be contacting the private landowner.
“We welcome the opportunity to open a dialogue with the owners of this very special place in the local community to see if we can reach a sensible compromise that suits everyone.
“Myself and so many people have fond memories of visiting this great venue.”
