No-one wants to own town's landmark chimney - not even for free!

An iconic chimney that is a landmark in the town of Wiveliscombe, has been offered to a local business, the town council, and the public by auction – but no-one wants to buy it.

The chimney, which rises hundreds of feet into the air and can be seen a long distance away from the town, was being offered together with a small parcel of roadway and access land on the historic former brewery site on Golden Hill.

It came onto the market after its owner died, and was initially offered to a local business on the site for free, but this was declined.

The town council was invited to bid for it, but also turned the offer down.

“It is in a conservation area, and we decided not to bid for it as it would be a liability if anything went wrong and could cost thousands,” said Wiveliscombe Town Council chairman Roger Wilson.

A public auction was held in September with a suggested guide price in a brochure by auctioneers Symonds & Sampson of £2,000 - £3,000 for the “prominent, former brewery chimney stack which forms a notable landmark on the town's skyline” and the land with it.

It is understood that although local people were very interested in the sale of the chimney, and it was hoped that a local group might want to take it over because of its heritage value, in the end no-one has offered to buy it.

Asked what he would like to see happen to the chimney in the future, Roger Wilson said the council would like to see it keeping on being preserved, along with the land being suitably maintained so that people who own houses and garages or work in the area, can continue to have good access.