Council to seek new deal over Castle Park House

FRODSHAM Town Council is to try and re-negotiate the terms under which it rents the ground floor of Castle Park House for offices.
A two-hour extraordinary general meeting of the council last night decided unanimously that it would like to remain in the prestigious former stately home in Castle Park.
But they are to hold talks with Cheshire West and Chester Council (CW&C) and the Castle Park Trust in a bid to get a better deal.
It was only last year the council made the decision to move into Castle Park House after spending years in cramped conditions in the adjoining  Footman’s Cottage.
But this meant an increase in rent from £7,500 to £30,000-a-year and also a staffing increase,
Currently the council have use of the whole of the ground floor at Castle Park House – which gives them the opportunity for an income from sub-letting.  But so far, this income has proved disappointing.
Members had a number of options to consider – including reducing the amount of space they rent at Castle Park House or moving out of the building altogether.
One possibility was moving to Frodsham Community Centre – another moving into a vacant shop in Main Street.
Some members have visited the shop to assess its suitability.
But veteran councillor Frank Pennington said: “I would be completely opposed to us moving into a shop.
“What sort of an impression would it give if the Mayor, on an official engagement, had to set out from a shop?”
Cllr Pennington has previously warned the council to “tread very carefully” in any negotiations over continuing use of Castle Park House. He said he believed CW&C might be trying to unload responsibility for the whole of Castle Park onto the Town Council.
But after last night’s meeting he said: “I am in favour of staying at Castle Park House – provided we can get the right terms.”
A number of councillors have expressed the view that the house – “the jewel in Frodsham’s crown” – is the natural home for the Town Council.