GETTING married at Chesham Town Hall could soon become a thing of the past, with the town's council considering not renewing the venue's marriage licence.

Chesham Town Council has been unable to cover the costs of holding civil marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations due to a decrease in the number of couples wanting to tie the knot there.

The current licence expires at the end of 2013 and council officers have recommended not renewing it for the following three years.

But councillors were unable to agree on what to do when the issue was discussed at a meeting on Monday - and the proposals are due to go back to the drawing board in the new year.

Town clerk Bill Richards told the Bucks Free Press: "There's a moral argument we want to continue regardless of finance and run it as a community service.

"We haven't quite managed to break even. When it started it was the only place in Chesham with a licence but there's many more places around the town now that can offer the service."

He added however: "We are looking at the option of giving a liquor licence for the facility and revamping the kitchen for community use."

The plans are due to be discussed again by the council on January 14.