MP Noah Law has joined the debate over the future of an eyesore building in the centre of St Austell.

The Labour politician, who was elected for the St Austell and Newquay constituency last summer, is asking local people what they think should be done about the former General Wolfe pub, off Truro Road.

There has been long-running disagreement over the future of the grade II listed building.

Cornwall Council, which has involvement in the building through Conserv Facilities Ltd, has told the town council the premises will be used to house homelessness people.

However, the town council is “strongly against” this idea and has been pressing Cornwall Council over “the continued neglect” of the building by Conserv Facilities.

The premises have become a location for anti-social behaviour and squatters have had to be evicted.

The town council has been informed by Cornwall Council that Conserv Facilities bought the former pub a few years ago with the intention of refurbishing its apartments for use by homeless people and that, after a series of feasibility studies for alternative uses, the company was in the process of pursuing its original idea.

Town councillors have expressed “strong concern” over the plan, “particularly as Cornwall Council has recently acknowledged that St Austell already has a large amount of complex needs accommodation close to the town centre and that they are actively trying to reduce placements in the town centre”.

Town councillors have said they are receiving regular complaints about anti-social behaviour in the town centre and that they fear “more placements of people with chaotic lifestyles could exacerbate this”.

The town council voted against a suggestion to demolish the former pub to make way for public realm or road improvements. The council did agree, though, to tell Cornwall Council that a community use, other than housing, should be found for the premises.

The councillors want the building to be refurbished to a high standard with an appropriate use being found for the premises which is in keeping with its listed building status and prominent position.

MP Noah Law said that in 2020 the former pub had been bought by Conserv Facilities for £1-million – then left to become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.

He said: “It really is staggering that an arm of Cornwall Council has not only wasted over £1-million on this – but also created additional social problems for the police; and that’s before the prospect of inflicting yet more accommodation for drug and alcohol users onto the town centre without any meaningful public consultation.”

The MP is urging local people to complete a survey he is running. This focuses on three main options.

The first is to explore demolishing the building to carry out road improvements and create a more attractive public street scene.

The second is to research delivering accommodation for local professionals and families.

And the third is to explore the potential use of the site as a facility for young people.

The survey can be found at bit.ly/generalwolfe