Public future for hall
A COMMUNITY hall which was nearly sold to a private developer looks set to be returned to the people who paid for it to be built – the public.
The trusteeship of Primrose Hall in Horbury is to be transferred from Wakefield Council to Horbury Heritage Trust after a three-year campaign.
The Charity Commission has sanctioned the transfer of the building which has been plagued by vandalism.
Plans have already been prepared to refurbish the hall and an application for funding will be made to the Community Fund soon.
The trustees hope that if their application is successful, the hall will be open for use by autumn.
A number of people have already contacted the trust to use the hall and activities suggested include dancing, aerobics, karate, short-mat bowls, yoga, art exhibitions and 18th birthday parties.
There have also been a number of requests for more playgroup provision in Horbury.
Trust chairman Stephen Armitage said the next step was for a management committee to be set up.
He said: "The hall is held in trust for the people of Horbury.
"It is therefore important that a management committee is formed to ensure that the facilities of the hall are used to their best advantage, on behalf of the community.
"It is equally important that the committee is constituted from as wide a cross-section of the community as possible.
"If anyone feels that they can make a positive contribution to the management of the hall, please contact our secretary, Christine Cudworth.
"The hall will survive if everyone makes an effort to make sure it succeeds," he added.
Primrose Hall was built by The Primrose League in 1927, using public money.
It was used mostly as a dance hall.
Unable to maintain the building, the league passed the hall to Horbury Urban District Council nine years later.
When the Urban District Council became part of Wakefield Council in 1974, the ownership of the hall was transferred with it.
It was closed to the public in 1997 and more recently has been used to store furniture.
In November 2000, Horbury Community Council, having heard that Wakefield Council proposed to sell the building, called a public meeting at which local MP Bill O'Brien expressed support for community action to save the hall.
The Save Horbury Heritage Group, later renamed the Horbury Heritage Trust, was asked at the meeting to take over the management of the Barker Road site.
When Wakefield Council put the building up for sale the trust objected to the sale on behalf of the community.
The deeds state that the public hall was to be used for the "common welfare, education, entertainment, amusement and recreation of the people of Horbury" and that the hall be "in trust forever for the people of Horbury".
If anyone is interested in starting a playgroup at the hall, they should contact Christine Cudworth on 01924 272619.
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Weather for Wakefield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -4 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
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