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Appeal over old Garforth building
A councillor is calling for the protection of an old council building he fears could face the demolition hammer.
The former one-stop shop on Main Street, Garforth – that provided a range of council services – has stood empty in recent months after staff switched to new offices on the other side of the road.
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Now council bosses have decided that they have no further use for the old building and have put it up for sale.
Coun Mark Dobson (Lab, Garforth and Swillington) – an admirer of the former one-stop shop's architecture – is concerned that the building will be bought by a private developer and redesigned or even bulldozed.
He is calling on the council to ensure that land can only be purchased on condition that the original architecture on the upper part of the offices is retained.
He said: "The old one-stop shop is one of the finest examples of the original architectural roots of the area and I am very conscious any potential sale of this building could result in Garforth Main Street losing a large part of its unique character.
"Although the 1970's look of the ground floor is unattractive, the upper floor with its fantastic decorative stonework is well worth retaining.
"I am therefore proposing that the council include a proviso to keep these features as part of any sale agreement. Unfortunately, no part of the building is listed so there is no legal requirement for the original features to be retained. However, conditions could be added to the sale agreement with a similar effect."
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Weather for Leeds
Friday 18 May 2012
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Temperature: 8 C to 12 C
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