THE use of land next to Corwen’s Pavilion is in dispute.
The area coloured red and blue on the map, right, including the Pavilion, was conveyed in 1947 to the Rural District of Edeyrnion, with the proviso that it would be used to promote and advance Welsh culture.
After local government reorganisation, Denbighshire County Council became the authority responsible for the area in 1996.
In 2001-2002, a library and a youth club on the blue land were demolished by the county council to make way for business units.
But the new building was in breach of the proviso, as the units would not be used to promote or advance Welsh culture.
Due to this breach the county council has now offered the land coloured green in lieu of the blue land.
And it says it will transfer the land to the Corwen Pavilion working group “on the proviso that the group sets itself up as a charitable trust and that the land is only used to build a new facility that promotes Welsh culture”.
As part of this proposal, the council would demolish the Pavilion, which was closed earlier this year as a health and safety hazard, as its current state is a risk to the council and would be a risk to any new board of trustees.
But Corwen resident Steve Cardwell said the proposal “still leaves the question of a building standing on land that is not being used for the furtherance of Welsh culture”.
“Denbighshire are the incumbent trustees and it appears yet again the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.
“They do have a large legal department, what is their take on it?
“And furthermore would it be prudent upon the council to offer independent legal advice so the community could make an informed answer to the way forward, as retrospective offers may not be lawful.”
He added: “Just one more point to add: DCC demolished two buildings to use the land as a library and a youth club which I suggest met the proviso. Were they their buildings to demolish?
“And have they set a precedent? If they pull the Pavilion down, will they have to build a replacement?”
The council spokeswoman added: “Denbighshire is already working with the Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council and the Corwen Pavilion working group to help set up a constituted charitable trust.”