‘BATTERED but undefeated’ is how a community group has described itself as it makes a last-ditch attempt to rally residents to help save an East Cornwall village hall.

The Kelly Bray Village Hall Management Committee, being supported by the village residents’ association, is pleading with village residents and supporters of the former Women’s Institute hall to put their hands in their pockets and help raise the funds needed to purchase it for the community.

Following the folding of the village’s WI, the hall — which has been used by the community as well as the WI during its 70 years of existence — was hoped to be kept by the residents for use as a village hall. But, according to the Charity Commission, the hall should be owned by the Cornish Federation of Women’s Institutes (CFWI) and be sold to use the money to further its charitable objectives in Cornwall.

After a long, four-year struggle with the CFWI over the ownership of the hall, the hall management committee has admitted defeat.

Before doing so, the committee registered the hall as a community asset with Cornwall Council, meaning that now the federation has announced its intention to dispose of the asset, there is a six-month hold before it can go on the open market. During this time, the committee is given the right to bid, meaning that it is able to buy the hall if it can come up with the funds before February 25.

Chair of the village hall management committee Susie Iannantuoni said: ‘We’ve now given up on our battle — at the end of the day it’s what name is on the land registry that claims ownership. We’ve run out of funds to fight any more and have accepted defeat begrudgingly. So far the CFWI haven’t given us a ball park figure of what they expect for the hall but we had it valued as it is and were told it was worth £40,000. So, with our right to bid we are now looking to raise that money.’

The committee has set up a Crowdfunding page so people can donate towards the cause, which is due to go live on Monday (October 26). It has submitted a number of grant funding applications and has a business plan ready if the purchase is successful, but really needs the support of the community to help save the hall.

‘I have to be hopeful that we can do this,’ said Susie. ‘We’ve been hopeful for four years now while we’ve battled over ownership. We are battered but undefeated and we are rallying people to get behind us. Although the hall is closed to us now, there is still fight in us — we will not stop.

‘Unfortunately now we have a cut off point, but it has been the spur that we need. Once the hall is gone, it really is gone. We are making a final appeal to the people of Kelly Bray to come forward and help us save the hall for the village.’

A spokesperson for the CFWI said: ‘The keys to the Kelly Bray WI Hall have been returned to CFWI. In accordance with the Localism Act 2011, the Kelly Bray WI Hall has been included in the council’s list of Assets of Community Value.

‘CFWI has advised the council that it is its intention to dispose of the asset. The Kelly Bray Residents Association has notified the council of its intention to bid and has until February 25, 2016 to submit its bid. The property may not be sold on the open market during this period, however legislation permits sale to a community group during this period.

‘Kelly Bray Residents Association has informed CFWI that it is committed to offering a credible and honourable bid for the hall and has taken advice from agencies who specialise in offering advice and guidance. Both parties are working towards achieving an outcome that is satisfactory to all.’

Anyone who would like to help save the hall can donate by visiting www.crowdfunder.co.uk and searching ‘Kelly Bray Save Our Hall’ or by giving a cheque to any member of the village hall committee.

For more information visit www.kellybray.co.uk