SWINDON Council could be stuck with a bill for almost £400,000 after saving a privately-owned building from collapse.

The full cost of the council’s emergency repairs to the historic Mechanics’ Institute, pictured, in the Railway Village is £393,271.16.

The council had to begin the critical work last autumn to stop the roof falling in.

But the responsibility is supposed to lie with building’s owner Forefront Estates Ltd, run by businessman Mathew Singh, who has now been billed for the work.

But if he can’t pay, then ultimately the council may have to shoulder the costs.

A council spokesman said: “Ultimately, if Forefront Estates is unable to pay the bill, then the council will be stuck with it.

“We had no choice but to do the work once we became aware of the extent of the building’s deterioration, and especially once we’d found out that the roof was in imminent danger of collapse.”

And the council must also shoulder some of the blame believes Daniel Rose, chairman of the Mechanics Institution Trust which campaigns for the restoration of the Grade II* listed building.

He said: “For Swindon it symbolises very strongly where we’ve lost our way in preserving and celebrating our heritage.

“It’s his (Mr Singh’s) responsibility to ensure the building is safe, secure and isn’t facing rapid deterioration.

“But on the other hand, it’s the council that should enforce that.

“The council has consistently not enforced action against the owner. While they’re doing it now, it’s very late.

“If it happened years ago, it wouldn’t cost as much.”

Asked if the council must accept blame, deputy council leader Coun Garry Perkins said: “No, not at all.

“Mr Singh has owned it for about six years. It’s never been our building. He’s been instructed to do work many, many times over the years. He has undertaken some work, not much, but some work has been carried out.”

He added: “It’s difficult for us to step in as we don’t own the building.”

The building was built in 1855 to offer services to workers on the Great Western Railway.

It had been privately owned since 1986, and Mr Singh bought it in 2003.

The repair work on the roof is classed as “dangerous works” – in other words, necessary to stop it falling down.

But “urgent works”, slightly less critical work, still need to being carried out by the council to make sure the building doesn’t fall into further disrepair.

The bill is expected to be easily run into six figures, and will also be sent to Mr Singh.

Mr Singh could not be contacted.