A GRADE II-listed tollhouse betw­een Porthmadog and Penrhyndeudraeth could be transformed into a museum in a bid by community groups to save the building.

In 2003, the Welsh Assembly Government bought the Cob, the Rebe­cca Tollhouse, which dates from around 1836, and other land to facilitate improvements.

Following the completion of the Porthmadog bypass, the A487 roadway over the Cob became vested in Gwynedd Council as the highway authority.

The process of transferring the tollhouse from the Assembly to Gwynedd Council is nearing completion and members of Porthmadog Town Council and Penrhyndeudraeth Town Council have come together to discuss what they could do to make use of the building.

Cllr Richard Williams of Porthmadog Town Council said: “We recently had a meeting to discuss the fut­ure of the tollhouse and to see what it could be used as in the future.

“It’s part of the history of Porthmadog and has been here for a number of years and it is also important to remember there is historic slate on the tollhouse.

“Penrhyndeudraeth Town Council is very interested in taking on the building and has presented some good ideas of what could be done with it, such as turning the building into a museum, which could house the history of Porthmadog and Penrhyndeudraeth.”

Cllr Carol Hayes said she supported the on-going discussions between both councils but worried nothing would come of them.

She said: “I’d fully support the idea that the tollhouse be turned into a museum, even though there are ideas­ here I’m still worried the building will just be left as it is and I won’t be happy about that; there are enough empty buildings in this town as it is.”

Cllr Selwyn Griffiths, chair of Porthmadog Town Council, added: “At the moment the tollhouse still belongs to the Assembly and we are still waiting for it to be transferred over to Gwynedd Council.

“Penrhyndeudraeth Town Council is very keen to push ahead with their ideas and we are open to all discussions with them and will look forward to hearing more about what they are hoping to do.

“It would be nice to see it developed into something historical and save the building.”