Councillors in Nailsea have hit out at North Somerset Council’s high price tag for a youth club the latter had ‘run down’.

North Somerset announced plans to sell Youth House in December last year and Nailsea Town Council was keen to buy the building for an appropriate price.

The town council has been running youth services in the town since North Somerset axed its funding for youth provision in 2012 and it is keen to continue providing activities for youngsters.

However, town councillors were shocked when North Somerset Council asked for £325,000 for the building and claim taxpayers should not have to pay for the building twice when it is being used for the community.

Councillor Liz Frappell said: “Youth House has been a community building for 45 years, and the town council wants to continue to use and invest in it for the residents now that North Somerset Council has run it down and the town council has had to take over running youth services from them.

“The taxpayers paid for it originally and the taxpayers of Nailsea should not pay for it again. It should be transferred to the town council as a community asset for a nominal sum.”

A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “The town council has expressed interest in buying the building and together we agreed to get an independent valuation.

“This was carried out by the district auditor who came up with the figure of £325,000. We have a duty to get best value for council taxpayers.”