A PUBLIC meeting arranged last month to attract residents to come aboard and help run a vital community hub has been described as “really encouraging”.

A plea was put out to the residents of Presteigne last month, urging them to come together and help run Presteigne Memorial Hall.

The team that runs the hall said a new committee and board of trustees is required to take on the management of the hall – following its abrupt closure in 2023 following a damming fire inspection that revealed it was unsafe to use.

Work on improving the building is nearing completion after an arduous 10 months, but fears about taking the hall forward led to a pubic meeting being arranged on January 16. It was said to be encouraging, with a post on the hall’s Facebook page the following day reading: “Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting last night. 

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“It was really encouraging to see so many faces and so many offers of help and support. 

“Please bear with us, we have had another meeting with Powys County Council today, and will update you all soon.

“We will be making contact (with) those who have registered their interest in forming a committee in the first instance, and then those who have registered their interest in offering their help going forward. 

“Thank you to Councillor Bev Baynham for chairing the meeting, Terry Wells for hosting us and PAVO (Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations) for their advice.”

The hall committee announced last year that it had been contacted by Powys County Council on April 25, and told the hall would have to be closed immediately.

“The hall must be closed to the public with immediate effect,” read the post.

“This was not expected, the committee are working with Powys CC to remedy this as soon as possible.

“At this time we are unable to give a lead time on how long the work will take. Apologies to all our regular users; please be reassured the committee will do everything in its powers to get the doors re-opened as soon as possible.”

County Times:

A spokesperson for the local authority said at the time: “The management committee of Presteigne Memorial Hall invited the council to carry out inspections to the building to ensure that (it) complied with the latest regulations.

“The council undertook a series of inspections which identified issues that need to be addressed.  The management committee were informed by the council to remain closed until these issues are resolved.

“The council is now supporting the management committee to develop an action plan to address these issues and to work with them to re-open the building as soon as possible.”