THE future of Gunnislake public hall and social club will be discussed at a public meeting this evening (Thursday), to which residents are being invited to give their views.

The public hall and social club are said to be under threat since the long-standing trustees of the hall have died and the current constitution doesn’t allow for the hall to be used as a village hall.

The public meeting, being held in the public hall at 7.30pm, is inviting residents to give their views about whether the hall is wanted by the village and asking people to come forward to help save it.

Resident Ross Hanley said: ‘In recent years neither the hall nor the club have been as busy as they once were. The long-standing trustees of the hall have passed away and the future of both areas is now under threat.

‘The existing constitution of the public hall goes back to the early years of the 20th century and does not allow for the hall to be an official village hall as such.’

‘Because of this, it does not qualify for public funding. It is possible to change this constitution and find a viable way forward so that the village retains its hall and makes it more relevant to the needs of the 21st century — if that’s what people want. The alternative would be to lose the hall, probably forever.’

Mr Hanley said if it was the will of the village to keep the hall at the heart of the community, there must be those who are prepared to put in the time and the effort to make it happen on a sustainable basis.

He added: ‘It will take time and commitment on an ongoing basis and the whole community will need to embrace the project, not just the few who come together to form a management committee. It could be a fantastic opportunity for us all to make a real difference.’

Calstock Parish Council was approached for help in how to go forward with the issue of the public hall.

Parish clerk Sue Lemon said: ‘There are no trustees left, so the parish council was approached to see what could be done. We suggested a public meeting to get the village’s feelings on the public hall and whether it should be kept for the village.

‘It was suggested that the council could possibly become trustees and have a public committee run it, but we want to know if there is any public interest in it before we even consider the idea. If there are new trustees, then the constitution can be changed.’

Anyone interested in finding out more about the public hall and would like to have their say on its future, is invited to attend the meeting.