MP Noah Law is pushing for the future of an eyesore building in the centre of St Austell to be decided.

The Labour MP for St Austell and Newquay is keen to see a decision made about the former General Wolfe pub building off Truro Road.

One option being put forward by Mr Law is for people in the town to raise enough money to refurbish the rundown property in a community initiative.

He says the project could cost nearly £2-million and he is challenging residents to come up with a plan within six months.

Mr Law said: “I’ve been working hard behind the scenes to explore potential options.”

He has revealed he commissioned research from the Community Land Trust and has had talks with developers about partnering with the community to turn the former pub into housing for local people.

The MP has shared details of the Community Land Trust’s report, and companies interested in developing the site, with Cornwall Council.

He said: “It’s time for interested residents to step up and show they care.”

Conserv Facilities, a company set up by Cornwall Council, bought the former pub a few years ago with the intention of refurbishing its apartments for use by homeless people. After a series of feasibility studies for alternative uses, the company has come back to its original idea.

However, since the purchase, the building has become a location for anti-social behaviour and squatters have had to be evicted.

Cornwall Council has told St Austell Town Council it wants the premises to be used to house homeless people.

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

The option of demolishing the building has also been discussed.