A PUBLIC meeting takes place tomorrow (Saturday March 13) called by townsfolk fighting to maintain public use of a landmark medieval building.

It follows moves to find a new long-term tenant for The Old Rectory, in Houghton-le-Spring.

The Grade II-listed building, in Rectory Park, has been used as a local office for Houghton-le-Spring and the surrounding Coalfield area for Sunderland City Council in recent decades.

But, amid continuing cutbacks affecting local government, the city council is seeking to sell-off the lease for the under-used building.

Believed to date from the 12th Century, it was the seat for rectors of what was among the largest and wealthiest parishes in the Durham diocese.

In post-war years it became home to the former Houghton Urban District Council, which pre-dated the creation of the extended Sunderland borough, when Houghton-le-Spring and neighbouring villages were transferred from County Durham, following local government reform, in 1974.

The recent attempts to find a new tenant sparked an angry response from local community groups.

They initially called for an extension to the six-week period for expressions of interest to give them time to formulate alternative plans.

A previous public meeting, called by the Friends of Rectory Park group at short notice five weeks ago, was attended by more than 200 people.

Friends’ chairman, independent city council member Sheila Ellis, said many local people felt angry as they were unaware of the apparent bid to sell-off what is seen as a community asset, with historic importance.

She pointed to nearby Newcastle, where the city council made some of its buildings available for sale, but gave public and community groups an extended time-scale to come up with their own plans.

“If it’s good enough for Newcastle it should be good enough for us,” she said.

Sunderland City Council said its hand was forced by Government cuts.

Cabinet secretary Mel Speding said: “The building has become surplus to requirement.

“The the Old Rectory is within Rectory Park and the council is presently progressing a Heritage Lottery Funding bid to improve the park. “

He said the council was seeking a tenant, “to provide a sustainable end use” for the Old Rectory, to ensure preservation of such an historical building.

But he backed calls for an extension of the deadline for expressions of interest.

The newly-formed civic society, Houghton Community Urban Trust, has called tomorrow’s (Saturday March 14) meeting, under the banner: ‘Don’t Let Sunderland Sell-off Houghton’s Heritage’.

It takes place at the Methodist Church, in Mautland Street, at 2pm.

Further information is available via info@houghtoncut.org.uk, or by ringing 0844-441 8555.