Campaigners upset with Cheshire West and Chester Council for selling off a park keeper’s lodge are considering applying to the authority to have it registered as an Asset of Community Value.

Residents were furious when the lodge at Alexandra Park in Hoole was sold off in February 2013 for £249,000 and even more angry when the revamped property resold privately for £475,000.

Under the Localism Act 2011, a group can nominate a building or land identified as adding value to that community for listing by the local authority as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

When a listed asset is to be sold, local community groups have a moratorium period within which they can make a bid to buy it.

Hoole Community Forum is meeting in the community centre on Westminster Road at 7.30pm on Tuesday, October 21 to discuss the ACV proposal.

The Forum Facebook page states: “Please come along and support the campaign to register Hoole Alexandra Park and the Lodge as an ‘Asset of Community Value’ with the council.

“The Department for Communities and Local Government has been advising us on our community rights. Thank you to all the people who have, in so many ways, supported the cause to restore Alexandra Park and hope to see you at the meeting.”

Leading campaigner Linda Webb of Fairfield Road, Hoole, said ideas for the park lodge included establishing an art gallery and a cafe. She said the council had already received £249,000 so she understands the community would have to fund the difference with the new market value.

A fighting fund has also been launched to mount a legal challenge to the council’s general management of an Edwardian park including providing a private access to St Martin’s Academy free school.

Cheshire West and Chester Council does not wish to comment at this stage.