A DERELICT old police station in Nailsworth is going to be bought by the town council in a ground-breaking deal.

If the authority spends £100,000 on the 1970s site in Old Market, it would turn it into a civic centre for the public to enjoy.

It could then be used for the community to use for meetings and social events.

Councillor Steve Robinson, the mayor of Nailsworth, said moving the council's HQ to the old station would make best use of town council property – it also owns the Mortimer Room next door, which adjoins the library.

The town council has been interested in the property for a year. It is one of 15 police properties, including three stations, to be sold.

The force must save £18m over four years, so the station is being flogged on the open market and a police point has been set up in the library.

"The town council is working with Gloucestershire Market Towns Forum to produce a business plan with a view to making an offer for the police station," said Councillor Robinson. He said it would be of "great benefit to the town".

"It forms part of the 2006 Nailsworth Design Statement, which was the result of two years of consultation in the town. The idea is to look at all the buildings belonging to the town council and see how they can be used to their full potential within the budgets that are available."

The town council stepped in with help to run the library when the county council announced major library cuts.

After a successful legal challenge from Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries, Nailsworth library like several others, is likely to become a partnership library with between 12 and 21 core hours of opening, plus more volunteer-run hours from the community.

Councillor Robinson said the 1840s-built town hall is not likely to be sold, but rented out.

A firm of accountants already rents part of the building, and more space rented out could pay for the police station site.

"The town hall would be more of a village hall," he added.

Residents have welcomed the move, with Charles Foster, 51, saying: "It would be lovely to see the old police station back in use again, it's horrible seeing it empty."