A SERIOUS threat hangs over the future of the village hall in Exbourne unless new committee members can be found.
New blood is urgently needed to keep this centre of the community thriving, but despite appeals, no-one has come forward yet.
Chairman Reg Ayton said all the current members were ageing and were looking for others to take on the management role.
The treasurer was also planning to move from the village soon.
'We have never been overloaded with volunteers but trying to attract people on the committee is especially hard,' he said.
'It is the younger ones we need to take over from the older ones who have given a very good service over the years.'
Some committee members are finding their health does not permit the consistent activity needed to make the hall a success, although Mr Ayton said the hall was busier than it had been in years.
'As far as activities go, the village hall is doing very well but a high usage does mean more work for the committee,' he said.
'It is used by the school and pre-school and the Football Club on a Sunday for changing rooms, but no-one seems to want to give time and effort to maintain it.'
The present committee can foresee great difficulties in keeping the hall going through 2002 if this lack of interest continues.
'Unless some others come forward to take the place of older members the hall will close down,' warned the chairman.
If the hall could not be kept financially viable through a shortfall in committee members/trustees, it would have to be handed over to the Charity Commissioners.
And if they could not arrange for new trustees to manage it, they would legally be obliged to sell it.
The chairman continued: 'We do not need 20 people, just six or seven. At the moment we have an excellent secretary, but we are concerned about the continuity.'
Anyone interested in becoming a committee member should call hall committee secretary Dr John Stoneman on 01837 851686.