There are further calls for support to secure the future of Westbury Parish Hall, as a meeting heard there is a “real possibility” the hall will need to close.
A group of local people came together on Saturday 15th March to discuss how they could support the hall and prevent its closure. Among those attending was Andrew Murrison MP, who expressed his hope that the hall remains open for community use.
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urrently, the building, near All Saints’ Church, is in poor condition. Damp is penetrating the roof, the windows have no insulation, and the toilets are not fully accessible. Without a solution, groups that use the space—including Brownies, St John Ambulance Cadets and yoga classes—could be forced to find a new home.
As reported in the White Horse News in March, the congregation of All Saints’ Church is appealing to the people of Westbury to back their vision to transform the hall into a modern, multi-purpose community hub. A scheme with planning permission would see the hall refurbished with improved facilities and a mezzanine level.
Beth Thomas, from the White Horse Team Ministry and the lead campaigner for the project, said, “Everyone who attended the meeting agreed that it would be a tragedy if Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, St John Ambulance Cadets, the Youth Club and other community users had to find an alternative venue. The hall has so much potential if we could just get Westbury behind the project.”
Built in 1873 by All Saints’ Church as a Sunday school room, the hall later served as a classroom for Westbury Junior School and Laverton County Infants School. It became the parish hall in 1970 when a new school was built on Eden Vale Road.
The congregation of All Saints’ is currently facing a double challenge—maintaining the Grade I-listed church, which requires tens of thousands of pounds of repairs, and upgrading the ageing Parish Hall.
They are unable to support both projects alone and are calling for a community-based charity to take on the management and development of the hall.
Individuals are being urged to show their support by becoming members of a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation, which would be responsible for running the hall. Trustees and volunteers would be drawn from these members.
The new charity will need project managers, fundraisers and people who can help manage the hall on a day-to-day basis.
Beth added, “The congregation has reached crunch point. The deteriorating condition of the hall means that it is getting harder to secure bookings, and it’s no longer covering its running costs. As the church only just breaks even each year, this is not sustainable. If nothing changes, there is a real possibility of having to close and sell the hall.”
Anyone who would like to support the project is asked to contact Beth on beth@whtministry.org.uk or 07790 870 247by 31st March.
The steering group will then assess whether there is enough support to make the charity viable. If so, a meeting of potential members will be called after Easter to agree on the next steps. More information can be found on the All Saints’ website: www.achurchnearyou.com/All-Saints-Westbury.
Pictured above: The Parish Hall is in poor condition and urgent action is needed to preserve its future
Pictured below: Beth Thomas outside the hall
