A SAWBRIDGEWORTH man is fighting to keep a piece of the town's heritage in public ownership following moves to sell it off.

Michael Brown handed a 50-name petition to East Herts Council last Wednesday protesting at the proposed sale of Sayesbury Manor in Bell Street.

Mr Brown, 64, of Knight Street, says the 18th century manor is a "natural civic centre for Sawbridgeworth" and its gardens a valuable public open space.

He said: "It should be kept for the community in perpetuity. People don't realise what they've got until it's gone. We want it to be a real focal point for the town. Up until now it has not been properly exploited. When people knew what the petition was for I didn't have to ask them to sign, they approached me."

But East Herts Council, which owns the Grade II listed building, has been trying to off-load it since 1997.

A spokeswoman said the decision to sell was made because the property had become "surplus to requirements".

It was initially offered to Sawbridgeworth Town Council but following a year of consultation and attempts to raise lottery funding the town council decided not to buy.

Former town councillor Valerie Bright, who was mayor in 1997, said the council could not afford to buy it after it was refused lottery funding. Of the plans to sell it to private bidders, she said: "It's very sad that it's being sold."

Now the property, which is currently used by the town council, is to be sold on the open market for office or residential use.

Mayor Diana Richardson declined to comment on the sale but said the town council was likely to move to new premises early in the new year.

December 6, 2001 9:14