ABINGDON’S Guildhall could be transformed into a profitable community venue with a cinema in a million pound revamp.

Abingdon Town Council was handed the Grade II-listed building with £1.2m for improvements after a deal with Vale of White Horse District Council in April.

The district council was losing £100,000 a year running the civic hall and the town council said it was in a better position to manage it.

The new owner has now asked consultancy firm Mayfield Arts to investigate the commercial viability of running a cinema in the Abbey Hall as well as live entertainment, weddings, conferences and exhibitions.

Sandy Lovatt, council leader and chairman of the Guildhall committee, said: “We have to generate more income so it has to be better – better looking, better facilitated and more flexible in its use.”

The council agreed to spend £140,000 on improvement and restoration work to the historic parts of the building in June, with work due to start in the new year and last about 11 weeks.

Mr Lovatt said: “Abingdon Town Council has hit the ground running on this project with plans to make the Guildhall a viable community facility as quickly as possible. The Guildhall will be a fine and versatile facility for the town’s residents and other organisations. It will reflect Abingdon’s status as a modern and historic market town.”

The feasibility study will take place between now and Christmas and will be followed by a public consultation.

Work could start in autumn next year and would take six months.

Town clerk Nigel Warner added: “The town council is committed to the development of the Guildhall. The work which will be undertaken by Mayfield Arts will be important in helping the council come to the right decisions in taking the Guildhall forward over the coming years.”

Money will also be spent on redesigning the foyer and entrance. The building could also have a cafe.

Abingdon Chamber of Commerce president Paul Townsend said such a venue was something the town was missing.

He said: “If they can get it right it will be an absolutely fantastic asset to the town.”

James White, chairman of the Choose Abingdon Partnership, welcomed the idea and said it would be great if the Guildhall began generating money rather than draining it.

He said: “It could be fantastic. The Guildhall has not been very well utilised in recent years.

“It is never going to be an ideal theatre but the idea is to make it more of a place for the town with entertainment and other events. At the moment it seems to be a largely wasted asset.”