TOWN leaders have vowed to press ahead with regenerating Abingdon Guildhall despite rejecting all the bids to run it at a private meeting on Wednesday night.

The original 15th century Guildhall has been restored but speculation surrounds the future of its 1966 extension after plans to create a cinema and arts hub were unveiled in 2013.

Press and public were excluded from Wednesday’s talks but it emerged yesterday that all the tenders were rejected as councillors felt they did not include enough investment. There were also concerns that they would limit community access.

Councillor Dennis Garrett said the town council was not going back to the drawing board by rejecting the bidders.

He vowed to press ahead with plans to install a cinema and regenerate the building using council cash. He added: “We have very much advanced the drawing board.”

While the council ruled out a loan to fund the improvements, it has £1.2m to invest and has asked architects to cost out fresh plans for the building.

Mr Garrett hoped the new plans – to include a cinema in the Abbey Hall, new street-level doors and improved boilers and toilets – would help the hall generate more cash for the council.

He said: “Clearly we don’t want to spend what money we have left and have a building not used any more than before.”

The Guildhall has been run by Abingdon Town Council since 2011 when it was bought from Vale of the White Horse District Council.

Originally £3.4m plans were put forward to revamp the building, but the town council failed to secure Lottery grants to expand its £1.2m budget.

Guildhall committee vice chairman Mike Badcock added: “The proposed plans were not compatible with widespread community use or the financial interests of the people of Abingdon.”