A BUSINESSMAN wants local officials and Knutsford people to help him maintain an historic town building.

Derek Panagakis, who spent £50,000 last year repairing the Old Town Hall, said the 132-year-old building was an important town landmark.

"We would very much like some help from someone," he said.

"It should be substantially funded by the local authority, but it is up to us to maintain it."

Mr Panagakis has leased the 200-year-old Old Town Hall from local property owner Randle Brooks for more than 32 years.

Since 1972 he has spent much of his profits repairing more than 9,000 bricks, a chimney and many other parts of the building.

Last week Mr Panagakis, who runs Allen and Appleyard's furniture shop, said he even went on the roof once a month to check for damage. "We've had massive repairs to do," he said.

"People complain about the state of the building, but they don't have to maintain it."

Last year Mr Panagakis spent £12,000 repairing a 20ft chimney after it was damaged in gales during February.

Workmen were also there for about five months repairing cracks.

Last year Macclesfield Borough Council described the Old Town Hall, which used to house a post office, as vulnerable and said it would be monitored.

But last week Mr Panagakis said he had received just £1,000 from council officials towards the ongoing repairs.

"I'm a realist," he said. "People are strapped for cash and fully committed to other things.

"The responsibilities we have are written in the lease. I don't think anyone else would help." Lord Egerton paid for the Old Town Hall to be built in 1871-72.

It was designed by eminent Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse, who also designed Manchester Town Hall, and its ground floor was originally used to sell dairy produce.

Mr Panagakis said the building should be preserved because of its historical importance to Knutsford.

"We're gradually rebuilding the place," he said.

"I'm delighted we've managed to keep it going for this long."

Mr Panagakis' plans to open a first-floor nightclub in the building to help pay the bills have been shelved for now.

Last week he said the proposal, which caused controversy when it was first unveiled in 1998, was currently not feasible.

"We don't believe anything is going to happen within the next 12 months," he said.

"I'm not interested in pursuing that at the moment."

amac@guardiangrp.co.uk