THE new committee of New Quay Memorial Hall faces a desperate race against time in order to raise funds to keep the 93-year-old building open.

Unless the New Quay War Memorial Committee can secure funding by 30 September the building – constructed in 1925 by public subscription in memory of New Quay’s World War One dead – will close.

Chairman Julian Evans revealed that the hall’s current managers – the New Quay Memorial Hall Management Committee – would continue to fund the various utilities until the end of September.

But he conceded there was no financial backing in place to keep the hall open after that.

“We have set up this new committee and we are going to apply to the Charities Commission for charitable status,” Dr Evans told the Cambrian News. “We will then seek lottery funding.

“If that money is forthcoming then we will sign a repairing lease to keep the hall going.

“We are currently looking for initial crowdfunding to help us beyond that 30 September deadline because if we do not have any money after that then we’re not in a position to pay for the utilities.”

Over the past few months Dr Evans and others have been serving teas and coffees at the hall’s ‘mini-market’ on Friday mornings.

“Since the indoor market moved to Caerwedros it’s important that elderly people can look forward to something on a Friday,” he said. “It’s ticking along at present and we didn’t want to let the people of New Quay down.

“Having witnessed the passion and enthusiasm that are still evident we are determined to at least go down fighting.”

Anyone wanting to help can contact Dr Evans on 01545 560066 or at [email protected]

See this week’s South Ceredigion paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now