LEDBURY'S Market House faces closure following a decision not to install new stairs or a lift in the foreseeable future.

The town council is to seek legal opinions on the consequences of its agreed policy of doing nothing in the face of incoming disability access laws, which require disabled access to public buildings.

The decision could lead to the Grade I listed building being shut to the public by next autumn, when the new legislation comes into force.

Mayor Keith Francis said: "I think we've made the right decision to investigate the legal position and it may be necessary to close the Market House to the public for a while."

However, former mayor Clive Jupp said he was disappointed.

"We're not proposing any change that will get disabled people in here," he said.

Closure would mean the town council having to find at least a temporary venue for its meetings, which for the most part have to be held in public.

The council's "wait and see policy" was welcomed by Barry Jenkins, of Bye Street, who put together an 8,500-name petition this summer, opposing any alteration to the Market House.

He said: "It's brilliant. I think if I hadn't set up the petition, with the help of Doris Mitton, we may have had a set of stairs on the outside by now."

However, David Turner, a member of Ledbury Access Committee, said: "Speaking personally, I think the council should put in a lift and not drag its feet."

Coun Jupp, who spoke in favour of a lift, said: "I believe that if we go down the route of barristers it will cost this council a lot of money. The lift is quite a cheap option. I do think it right that we should focus on providing access for people with disabilities, in the spirit of the law."

The council has been investigating the possibilities of a lift for several months.

The new laws are expected to spark legal test cases nationally and these cases could result in special exemptions involving listed buildings, such as the Market House.

At last week's meeting, several councillors, including Jo Cooper and Martin Eager, threatened to resign if the council agreed to install a lift.