Thurrock Council has written to the Trustees of Belmont village hall in Grays, requesting that they step down from managing the hall and return it to the council in the next two weeks.
This action follows months of attempts to negotiate with the trustees and arrange mediation with a local Scout group that has been prevented from using the hall by the trustees. Unfortunately the trustees have failed to engage with the council.
Councillor Valerie Morris-Cook, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “In many parts of Thurrock, village halls are at the heart of the community, providing a safe and welcoming space for local groups to meet, get active, and enjoy each other’s company. They are for the benefit of everyone, and I want all local groups to know they are there for them. The behaviour of these Trustees, which has seen some groups not able to access the building goes against the very spirit of a village hall. I want to send a strong message to anyone trying to use public resources for their own benefit, at the expense of others, that this will not be tolerated.”
“I also know that that this action against the Trustees may raise local concerns from families who access the services, which operate from the community hall. I want to assure them that the services will continue to operate as normal while we talk to groups accessing the building following the departure of the trustees.”