Local Councillor Fights to Save Gable Hall

10.36.03pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 12th Apr 2009

Lib Dem Councillor Garrick Stevens is fighting to save the Gable Hall

When Tory-run Dacorum moved to close and knock down Gable Hall in Berkhamsted's Prince Edward Street, local Lib Dem Councillor Garrick Stevens called for urgent action "before the bulldozers are sent in".

£73,000 is needed for repairs and wheelchair access. Now it faces the axe as Dacorum Borough Council threatens tough budget cuts.

Garrick Stevens said, "We must do our best to save this public asset for our community. We will let the people of Berkhamsted down if we lose the hall without looking at all the options". He also slammed the Borough Council's failure to consult either the Town Council or local residents.

Following Garrick's lead a Working Party to save Gable Hall was set up. The Town Council has also called on the Borough to defer any decision pending full consultation with the Town Council and community groups.

Cllr Stevens says, "Dacorum Borough Council are badly out of touch. They've totally missed out on the Community Asset Transfer Scheme. This helped councils transfer assets like halls to voluntary groups to save them for community use. That could have got the hall repaired with government money. If Dacorum doesn't get its act together this will be both a community and a financial loss!"