"Calls to save community hall" - Vickers

4.53.33pm GMT Sat 15th Nov 2008

A popular venue for community music and drama events could close after Christmas if efforts to save it fail. The Newbury RAF Association (RAFA) Club has decided to close, after the British Legion offered its members use of their facilities at the opposite end of the town centre. Local actor Adam Kotz is leading these efforts, after asking a Public Question at this Thursday's Executive Committee, asking how the District Council can help.

Local Lib Dem District councillors Gwen Mason and Tony Vickers have written to RAFA Headquarters, asking for a 'stay of execution' for the Hall of six months, to give time for a local Hall Committee to form and draw up a business plan for the future. The hall is only five minutes' walk from Newbury's train and bus station, has a stage, a bar, a kitchen and seats around 100 people.

Councillor Vickers said: "There appears to be nothing structurally wrong with the hall and it has facilities that many community groups would find useful and affordable. I am hopeful that with the property market in a poor state RAFA will prefer to take a small income from keeping the hall open to the wider community than try to sell the land now. This site - surrounded by residential properties - doesn't offer much prospect of redevelopment. A community hall seems the best long-term use. I do hope the Council can find a way to use this hall to provide a valuable community facility."