A confidential meeting of council has given general manager David Sherley authority to continue negotiating with businessman Bruce Bolam over the potential purchase of the former Clancy Motors site on Howick Street.

The 5861 square metre site has been left vacant since the motor dealership moved to a new home on the Sydney Road at Kelso.

The property has been identified in council’s own urban and retail strategies and is seen as a strategic long-term investment.

Council also owns the Bathurst RSL car park that backs onto the Clancy Motors site and the area has been earmarked for a new shopping centre development in the future.

Council has not revealed what it would be willing to pay for the site but Mr Bolam told the Western Advocate in June he believed it was worth more than $5 million.

However, he conceded market forces would determine the final sale price.

Mr Bolam said he had been talking to a number of interested buyers with redevelopment as a seniors living complex also a possibility.

“There’s no other land left in the shopping precinct of Bathurst of this size and potential as a greenfield site,” Mr Bolam told the Advocate.

“Another major advantage is that it backs on to the RSL club car park and has access from three sides – the front, side and back. You’re only half a block from the post office and another block up is the highway (Stewart Street).”