A LISTED court building will not pass back into the hands of the community, it has emerged.

Dolgellau town councillors heard last week that the town’s magistrates court, which failed to meet its £75,000 asking price at an auction last month, has now been sold to a private buyer.

A local action group, The Dolgellau Court Committee, had hoped that they could turn the court building into a heritage centre for the town, which would also act as a tourist information centre.

The committee was operating under the understanding that they would take charge of the facility until they were surprised by the information that it had been put up for auction.

However, at last week’s town council meeting, Gwynedd councillor Dyfrig Siencyn told his colleagues “As I understand it, the court has been sold”.

Cllr Jo Checkley, who has worked closely with the court committee, said she had heard the same and that it might have sold for approximately £45,000.

“At the last viewing, there were 15 to 20 people who turned up, there was a lot of genuine interest,” she said,

As of yet, the new owner of the property has not been confirmed.

Cllr John Raghoobar was annoyed by the decision.

“I can’t believe they’ve just given it away for a measly £45,000,” he said.

Read the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News