THE death knell has sounded over Stow Youth Hostel as news has emerged the building is to be sold at auction.

In March last year the Youth Hostel Association announced its intention to sell the building after it became unviable to continue.

After a short stay of execution, the decision has now been made to sell and bookings are not going to be taken after September 30 this year.

The trustees said renovation costs as well as practical restrictions such as lack of parking and listed building status - presenting its own problems with planning regulations - made Stow Youth Hostel a non-viable proposition and they would never recoup the money they would have to spend to meet today's user needs.

The hostel is a 17th century town house situated in Stow high street and can accommodate up to 48 guests. A bed for the night costs between £13.50 and £17.50 for non-YHA members.

It has been used as a youth hostel for 80 years but the decision to sell the building came after occupancy dropped to less than 50 per cent.

Sam Littlechilds, media and policy manager for the YHA said: "The decision has not been taken lightly, but a lot of investment has been made in buildings, such as one at Stratford, which is a bigger stand-alone building with ample parking facilities. Users such as individuals and school groups are able to explore the Cotswolds from there. Unfortunately the building at Stow, though a lovely town house, was non-viable. We are a charity and we have to spend the money we get wisely."

The Youth Hostel Association currently runs just under 170 buildings though it has operated more than 1,000 over the course of its history. It has recently invested more than £20million on its hostels but has also announced a dozen closures over the past year.

Councillor Alun White, former chairman of Stow Town Council, said he had hoped a public outcry might save the facility.

"It is a very bad piece of news for people who use youth hostels because if there is a piece of the country people want to visit, this is it. There's won't be a single youth hostel in the Cotswolds and it must have the founding fathers of the Youth Hostel Association turning in their graves."

A planning application for the change of use and conversion of the youth hostel into two dwellings with ancillary accommodation was approved by Cotswold District Council on May 22.

Stow estate agents and auctioneers, Tayler Fletcher, is offering the building for auction on September 23.

Details of the auction are currently being finalised by Tayler Fletcher partner Edward Bagnall and will be advertised in due course.