Two halls used by almost 60 groups face an uncertain future because the Vale of White Horse District Council is losing £323,000 a year running them.

The Vale wants to cut its losses at Abingdon’s Guildhall and Wantage’s Civic Hall, and is trying to get the two town councils or community groups to take them on.

It might also sell them, but if there are no takers the council last night could not rule out shutting them down.

The Guildhall, in Abbey Close, loses the district council £108,000 a year, while the Civic Hall, in Portway, loses £215,000 a year.

In 2008, neither venue was used for more than 27 per cent of the hours they were open.

Community groups who use the venues are concerned that no organisation would want to take on the financial burden.

Carol Turner, of Oxford Road, Abingdon, used to hold organ concerts in the Guildhall before they became too expensive to run last month.

The 63-year-old said: “There’s an awful lot of rumours going around and that results in animosity. I think everything should be made public.” She added: “Who else would want to run it?”

Wantage mayor Patrick O’Leary said that the town council could not afford to run the Civic Hall. But he added: “We would fight to save the hall. It is a fantastic local facility.”

Alan Sykes, a member of Wantage Silver Band which uses the hall for major concerts, said: “If we lose the Civic Hall it will be a big loss.”

Joyce Hutchinson, Wantage district councillor who is on the property advisory panel, said that selling the hall would be a last resort.

The Civic Hall costs the authority £426,815 a year for reception staff, business rates and utility bills. The Guildhall costs £440,827 a year.

Abingdon Town Council leader Lesley Legge said it would look into whether it could take over the running of the Guildhall.

District council leader Tony de Vere said: “We are at the very early stages of a review. They both operate at a loss and cost us more than £300,000 a year to run, which is unsustainable.”

The district council says it cannot rule out the halls being closed down if no-one takes them on.

abingdon@oxfordmail.co.uk