LEDBURY Town councillors are considering buying the ambulance station in Bye Street and turning into a youth cafe.

Mayor Allen Conway has already been in informal talks with the West Midlands Ambulance Service and, at the latest meeting of the town’s environment and leisure committee, councillors voted to send for the tendering papers.

The property offers about 1,400sq ft of floor space, including a kitchen area and toilets, and Councillor Conway said it would be “perfect” for a youth enterprise.

The asking price is about £115,000.

The ambulance station is also part of the “Lawnside Road area”, which has been highlighted by Herefordshire Council as a possible site for future retail development in the town.

Coun Conway told fellow councillors: “I believe that if, heaven forbid, the development plan happens, we could make money out of this.”

But deputy mayor Tony Bradford said:“This could put the kibosh on the prospect of a retail site.”

Former mayor Paul Winter warned the council’s objectives had to be “absolutely clear”, as taxpayers’ money would be involved.

The ambulance station represents a significant part of the area that could be re-developed for retail, alongside the Lawnside Road car park, the swimming pool, the youth centre, the fire station, the community hall and the BT exchange building.

The Locality master plans – Ledbury, discussed by the Herefordshire Council cabinet last year, states: “This site comprises several publicly-owned buildings and there is considerable private sector retail interest in the redevelopment of the entire site”.