THE Old Hospital building in Minehead was sold for £350,000 at auction last week - and it wasn't to Minehead Development Trust.

The identity of the highest bidder is unknown and it is unclear what is to be done with the building.

Minehead Development Trust – a regeneration group – had hoped to purchase the Grade II listed building to turn it into a community hub, providing the town with services such as a library and information centre, a museum and a large community run public space.

According to a poll by the County Gazette, 59% of the people who answered it wanted to see a community hub in the building.

The building, which was owned by the NHS, was closed in 2011 after it was replaced with a new community hospital on Seaward Way.

An NHS Property Services spokesperson said: “Although we know the property had been important to Minehead, the old hospital site had been declared surplus to NHS requirements by healthcare commissioners and was costing the taxpayer a significant amount of money to maintain and secure. Proceeds from the sale will go back to the NHS.”