BIDS to take over a historical building in the middle of Abingdon were considered behind closed doors yesterday.

Old Abbey House, a building owned by Vale of White Horse District Council could be sold off to a private company or a community group.

Several bidders have applied to take over the building, but the council cabinet, its most senior councillors, made a decision on which one would be successful in a private session to protect confidential information.

Before the decision was made, Abingdon residents made the case for why the building should be given to a community group.

Julie Kelly, an Abingdon resident who set up a petition calling for the building to be retained in public use or given to a local group, told the council: "You have a building owned by the town which should remain for the people of Abingdon and you have a fantastic opportunity to achieve this."

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Ms Kelly's petition has been signed by more than 1,600 people online.

Cabinet members were sympathetic to the views of residents.

Andrew Crawford, the cabinet member for finance, said the council could not afford to keep the building.

He said: "Clearly we need to do something as the council is currently spending something like £20,000 in maintenance and security.

"That is council taxpayers money."

He added: "We cannot continue to spend nearly a quarter of a million pounds each year on an empty building when money is so tight.

"The longer the building remains empty the more expensive it will become to maintain and restore. Those costs could soon become prohibitive."