KNUTSFORD’S Cottage Hospital has failed to make the register as an ‘asset of community value’ and faces being sold for £2.5 million.

The British Red Cross, which borrowed £275,000 from the NHS in 1995 to purchase the building, is now calling for final bids on the property, and is required to repay the loan when the sale is complete.

Knutsford Town Council applied to register the building as an asset of community value but this was rejected by Cheshire East Council.

A statement from Cheshire East Council said: “The predominant use of premises is as offices for British Red Cross staff running programmes serving the whole of the UK.

“British Red Cross is currently arranging a sale to a private owner. Insufficient evidence was provided to confirm that there was a time in the recent past when the actual use of the asset furthered the social wellbeing or interests of the local community, and that it is realistic to think that there is a time in the next five years when it can do so again.”

But Allostock resident and health campaigner, Charlotte Peters Rock, has created a petition, gathering more than 2,600 signatures, requesting that the building is returned to the community, which originally paid for its construction in 1922.

In an accompanying letter, which she handed to staff at Memorial House on Monday, August 8, Charlotte said: “Knutsford War Memorial is the one for which the community in and around Knutsford paid, during times of very long pockets and very short change – and in grief.

“It was built (opened 1922) on land, which was covenanted to the town by Cuthbert Leicester Warren as for the building of ‘a hospital to serve the local need and as a memorial to those men who gave their lives during The Great War’.

“I invite you to join the more than 2,500 local people who have signed the petition – expressing anger at the actions of British Red Cross – to get this proposed sale for development stopped, and get the building which is Knutsford War Memorial Hospital returned to the Knutsford community for its own use.”

Knutsford Town Council has said that the working group, made up of councillors and residents, has also applied to Historic England for the building to be listed as ‘a building of special historical or architectural interest’ although it is still waiting for a response.

Adam Keppel-Garner, town clerk, said: “We are arguing that the value of the land is directly attributable to the investment from Knutsford and have asked that a significant proportion of the proceeds from the sale should be given to the town council for investment in the community.

“We are awaiting a further meeting with the British Red Cross to discuss this further; and no indication as to the position of BRC on this has been given.”

The British Red Cross has confirmed that ‘several bids’ have been made for the property.

George Peacock, head of property for the British Red Cross, said: “Under the Charities Act, the British Red Cross is legally obliged to accept the offer which represents best value when selling any of its properties.

“All offers received by the agents appointed to sell Memorial House will be considered and assessed by the agents appointed to sell the property. They will then make their recommendations to the Red Cross regarding the offer which represents the best value.”