The empty Medina nightclub building in central Swindon will not be converted into a community centre.

The councillor in charge of the local authority’s finances says it is just too expensive and that even with hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on it, the building would not be suitable due to the lack of accessibility.

Earlier this year, Conservative councillors explored the possibility of it being used as a community centre for the town's Goan community.

Speaking as the cabinet member for finance Councillor Kevin Small was presenting a draft budget proposal to cabinet members on Wednesday, the leader of the council Jim Robbins said: ”There was some noise about it around the time of the election from the Conservatives, but bringing the Medina nightclub building back into use isn’t something that can go ahead.

“The sensible thing is to keep it closed.”

Cllr Small added: “The cost of bringing the building back for use would be £600,000.

“And that money would not be enough to make the building compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act for community centre use.

“The costs to any potential client would have been more than that.

“The layout of the building is not suitable for a community centre as it is.”

The two-storey building in Theatre Square in the town centre has been shuttered since the nightclub abruptly closed in 2018.

Conservative councillors, particularly those from the Goan community, said earlier this year they wanted to see the council working to refurbishing the centre and opening it as a Goan community centre.

After Labour won the election on May, Cllr Robbins poured a little cold water on the plans, expressing concerns about accessibility, parking and the state of the building's fabric.

In July this year, a motion was put to council by Councillor Anabelle Pegado and her party and ward colleague Councillor Lourenco Fernandes urging that the council progress the work.

That included a building condition survey, which began in July.

The motion was amended by Labour councillors to note: “No record of any agreement between previous cabinet members, council officers and others regarding the former Medina nightclub building exists.”

The amended motion said Councillor Jim Grant the cabinet member for communities and joint working would share that condition report with the Swindon Goan Association when it is ready.

The building remains for sale with the price available from the council on application.

The only planning permission for its use at the moment is as a nightclub, so any other use would need a specific new consent.