Groups are being sought to take over a redundant building on a peppercorn rent.

Ashford Borough Council has bought the old St John Ambulance hall in Danemore, Tenterden.

It has approached town councillor Alan Sugden to see if he can find community groups wanting to rent it in the short term.

Cllr Sugden said: “The council has said nothing will happen to the hall for a year, so could we find a community use for it.

“The building is empty but there are a couple of rooms in there plus a kitchen and lavatories.

“It is available for a peppercorn rent so we are trying to find a use for it.”

The hall is currently boarded up and has been empty for a few months.

It was advertised for sale by online estate agents Rightmove for £170,000.

Ashford council is offering a short-term lease with any tenant needing to buy insurance and pay all the bills.

The hall has a kitchen, male and female toilets, an office, a store room and a main hall measuring around 27ft 8ins by 23ft.

The St John Ambulance cadets who previously used it have moved to Homewood School for their weekly meetings.

Mark Farmer, south east regional director for St John Ambulance, said: “The sale of the Tenterden building follows a review of all properties across the country to ensure the charity makes best use of its resources.”

Cllr Aline Hicks, Ashford Borough Council’s housing chief, said the hall would be part of the council’s plans to modernise the sheltered housing scheme in Danemore.

“Proactively acquiring the hall and its car parking facilities now is critical to ensuring that we can use the Danemore site rather than having to find an alternative area," she said.

“Given that it will not be required for the proposed development for a while, we are exploring all possibilities as to how the hall can be used in the short term as a community facility.”

Anyone intererested should email customer.care@ashford.gov.uk, with Danemore in the subject line.