The nightmare scenario for us is if the Hall closes permanently. What plans the County Council would have for the property and surrounding land remains unanswered.
Local Lib Dems and councillors on Chepstow Town Council are committed to finding a way to keep the Drill Hall open for people in the town.
Do you want to see the Drill Hall kept open as a public hall and meeting place as well as hosting talks, events and exhibitions in the future?
If so, please sign the on-line petition to the right.
You help to show public feeling by getting friends, family and work colleagues to sign as well. Just print-off a paper version of the petition and when done, just return back to us at the FREEPOST address!
A large amount of work has been going on between Chepstow Town Council and Monmouthshire County Council to keep the hall open.
Chepstow Town Council has proposed that the County Council transfer the ownership of the hall to enable a trust to be formed that would operate and manage the Hall for the benefit of residents in Chepstow.
Soon, representatives, including the Chair of the town council's Finance Committee, Phil Hobson, will meet with officials from Monmouthshire County Council to negotiate a deal that will see the management of the hall transfer from the County Council.
“Although the issue of outright ownership is a matter of debate between the two, it is, however, really important that we get the views of residents in the area on what they would like to see”, said local Town and County Councillor, Phil Hobson.
At present council tax paid to Monmouthshire County Council has paid for the Drill Hall. This will change if transfer of ownership/responsibility occurs.
For this current financial year the plan would be for Chepstow Town Council to pay to keep the hall open for the remainder of this financial year, allowing time for a trust to be set up, independent of the Town Council, but with the benefit of being able to attract grant funding.
The trust would be able to open-up the hall for a wider range of events than presently available.
In future years the proposals would see Chepstow Town Council grant fund the management trust of the Drill Hall, just as it does now with other community centres and meeting halls across Chepstow.
