THE "gateway" to Tenbury Wells is set to be sold by Malvern Hills District Council.

Members of the council's executive committee have decided to accept an offer on Temeside House which is significantly lower than one made before this summer's devastating floods.

The building, which is close to the Teme and has been deteriorating for a number of years, is owned by the council and has three tenants - Tenbury Town Council, the Community Resources centre and a chiropodist practice.

An offer of £355,000 was accepted in May this year but was withdrawn after the flooding and the property was put back on the market.

Nigel Snape, head of legal and governance, told the committee that the building was in a very poor state internally and externally. Emergency work was carried out last year after the council's safety officer identified a number of serious defects.

He said: "In its present condition, the building remains vulnerable to risk of vandalism and break-ins. While the revised offers are significantly less that the price agreed in May, they are still within the original valuation range advised by Worcester City Council."

The committee was told if the council kept the building it would have to spend £5,000 immediately to slow the decline for a couple of years, but could end up paying out £150,000 for essential repairs in the long run.

The committee agreed to accept the lower undisclosed offer. Tenbury councillor Phillip Grove said he had mixed feelings about the sale of Temeside House but it was not possible for the district council to invest in the building at the moment.

"The council has different priorities and those priorities need to be for the benefit of the taxpayers. I have mixed feelings about it," he said.

"It is disappointing to see the building in the state it is. It is the gateway to the town and selling it is a positive step. We are hoping the new owner will bring it back to its original state so that it is an asset to the town."