Deal to sell buildings ‘delicate’

THE sale of historic council buildings in the heart of Forfar has been agreed “in principle”.

Angus Council’s sale of 5-7 The Cross to Voluntary Action Angus is still not a done deal and negotiations have been described as “delicate”.

The official report from the meeting of Angus Council’s policy and resources committee, which was held in private, said the committee agreed to approve the sale “in principle, to allow the purchaser to undertake its survey of the premises” and “thereafter to formally accept the offer and to vacate the property”.

The offer is believed to be substantially lower than that offered by pub giant JD Wetherspoon four years ago.

Depute provost and Forfar independent councillor Colin Brown said: “We are in the middle of trying to broker a deal.

“If that deal is struck there will be a lot of movement.”

Mr Brown admitted there had been rumblings in the town about the offer and whether the council would be getting enough money.

He said: “There are people who are concerned about the town centre.

“Some are asking if we are accepting a deal simply to get the building off our hands.”

The Cross is one of a number of surplus council buildings the local authority has been struggling to sell for a number of years.

A spokesman for Angus Council said: “The Cross has been marketed for sale having been deemed surplus to requirements and we are currently in the process of disposing of this asset.”