THE FUTURE of one of the most iconic landmarks in Crow Country faces an uncertain future.

The Great Chishill windmill, which has stood in the village since 1819, was deemed surplus to requirements by Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) last week after the authority made budget-tightening rearrangements.

The grade two listed landmark will now be valued by an independent body, before being offered to Chishill Parish Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council on a first refusal basis.

Cllr Andrew Gardiner, chair of Great Chishill Parish Council, said: “The windmill is by far the most important and significant thing in the village, and is often described as iconic. We use it on our letterheads, and there are only two in Cambridgeshire.

“To loose it would be a considerable loss for the village, and it is too early to say whether the Parish Council would be able to afford it.”

The windmill had been placed in the Heritage at High Risk Register before being declared surplus, though CCC carried out work to keep the structure watertight to make it safe for the winter.

Sarah Scott, a resident of Great Chishill who maintains the windmill, said: “They want to dispose of the windmill due to spending cuts, but due to its historic heritage this would be bad for the village.

“It is so important to us. A picture of it is displayed in the main reception at the county council offices, which proves how highly it is regarded.”

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire County Council said: “The windmill at Great Chishill is a very important building in the area and it has recently been placed on the Heritage at Risk Register.

The windmill, which has just closed to the public for the winter, is due to be valued in the next four to six weeks.