Barnet Council has refused to rule out the sale of Friern Barnet Town Hall despite the building being granted Grade II Listed status last week.

Campaigners had fought for months to obtain the protection of the historic landmark but their efforts may have failed to persuade the council to abort any plans to sell-off the town hall as it evaluates which staff are to be relocated to the former Nortel Networks site in New Southgate.

When asked if the council would reconsider selling the building a council spokeswoman said: "It has absolutely no effect on it all as it is still undecided. The council has not decided which staff are to be relocated."

But Friern Barnet Conservative Councillor Brian Salinger said he was delighted with the decision by the Department of Media, Culture and Sport to award the listing status. He said: "We said before the election that we wanted to preserve the building and this will help with that. To that extent it is welcome. I am very pleased as some of us are very fond of the building."

The new listing will make it difficult to change the fabric of the building both inside and outside and was granted after Friern Barnet resident Dr Oliver Natelson, of Hollickwood Avenue, sent in a 70-page report detailing the building's historic value.

Dr Natelson said: "We want the council to retain it the town hall for civic uses and to make available to the public its wonderful interior that holds so many memories close to our hearts."

July 17, 2002 18:30