AN 11 year wait for a care home in a Tynedale town is set to be over after a local businessman revealed plans to convert a prominent town centre building.

Haltwhistle Church Hall, on Main Street, has been purchased by businessman Terry Christie after lying empty since 2004.

Speaking to the Courant this week, Mr Christie expressed his desire to breath new life into the building.

“I love the building,” he said, “I am going to have the whole outside dressed and to take it back to its former glory.

“The whole outside will be landscaped with water fountains and outdoor features.

“It’s going to be a beautiful site and the kind of place people want to spend their time in.”

Haltwhistle has been without a care home since Northumberland County Council closed the town’s Greenholme facility in 2009.

A petition calling for a care home to be opened in the town was launched by community members in January was backed by members of the town council.

Mr Christie said he first heard about the local campaign after speaking to town folk in the Haltwhistle Comrades Club.

He explained: “I said there and then that if I can acquire the building then I would convert it.”

“It’s going to be a massive improvement on the town centre.”

Chairman of Haltwhistle Town Council, Alan Sharp, welcomed the proposal and said a care home has been "badly needed" in the town.

He said: "The building has been in disrepair for many years and I am sure a lot of elderly people in Haltwhistle will welcome this new development.

"As chairman of the town council I look forward to working with Mr Christie to deliver a care home in the town."