A “20-minute phone call” would clear up confusion over the sale of a former care home.

Townsend House in Mitcheldean in the process of being sold by Gloucestershire County Council.

But there is frustration in the village over the lack of responses to emails about the property on Court Farm Lane, says the area’s county councillor.

Mitcheldean Parish Council believes it is unfair that local bidders, who would have done a good job, have been turned down, according to County Councillor Stuart Graham (Reform, Mitcheldean).

He raised the issue at the most recent full council meeting in Gloucester.

The councillor said the former 40-bed care home owned by the County Council is “currently derelict” and listed for sale at £500,000.

He asked what the council’s current plans are for the site and why the parish council had not been kept informed of developments in recent months.

Cabinet member Kate Usmar (Lib Dem, Tewkesbury East), who is responsible for adults’ support and independence, said in a written response to Cllr Graham that the property is currently in the process of being sold.

“There have been no notable updates during the marketing phase,” she said.

However she gave an assurance that the parish council would be informed when the sale goes through.

In a follow-up question during the meeting on September 10, Cllr Graham said that the understanding of the parish council is that Shire Hall has not responded to a series of emails.

“They feel it is unfair that local bidders for that property who would have done a good job with it have been turned down,” he said.

“It just seems there should be more dialogue between the parish council and whoever is handling the sale of the property in Mitcheldean.”

He suggested a 20 minute phone call between county council chiefs and the parish council would clear up the issue.

Cabinet member for finance, assets and transformation Colin Hay (Lib Dem, All Saints and Oakley) said he would get an answer to him.

Townsend House closed in 2018 and was placed on the market with agents Alder King.

According to their website, the property is now under offer.

The new Liberal Democrat administration at Shire Hall is currently looking to update the council’s approach to disposing of assets such as buildings.

Cllr Hay said that the current policy continued that of the former Conservative administration.

Presenting a report on property at last week’s Cabinet meeting he said: “It is going to be updated and we'll be listening to different people's views.”

Council leader Lisa Spivey (Lib Dem, South Cerney) added: “Selling off the family jewels has never been something that we want to do.

“What we also want to evaluate is that social value because we know that sometimes there are pieces of land, there are buildings which a community might be able to take advantage of to deliver really good community driven-services, and that we could perhaps be facilitating that by giving up or selling off an asset.”