THE chairman of New Quay Memorial Hall says major question-marks continue to hang over the future of the 93-year-old building despite it receiving a six-month ‘reprieve’ by Ceredigion County Council.

Alwyn Davies told the Cambrian News this week that he feared this would prove a stay of execution as a potential repair bill could exceed £100,000.

The hall’s future was plunged into doubt in December when the cash-strapped local authority decided to withdraw financial support on 31 March.

County Hall chiefs argued that axing the building’s subsidy would be justified as grant funding was available and they no longer supported other halls, including Lampeter’s Victoria Hall which was leased out with a grant in 2011.

They subsequently agreed on a six-month ‘period of grace’ leading up to 30 September to enable the hall committee to draw up a survival plan.

But Mr Davies admitted this week that he personally did not feel such a lifeline could be found.

“The idea was to give us six months to seek grant funding, perhaps run a survey on the needs the hall could fulfil and try and get new people on board,” he said.

“There are people working to try and move forward but I’m of the view that the county council are treating this six-month extension as more of a goodwill gesture than anything else.

“I feel they want to completely disassociate themselves from the building which has been very much neglected by the local authority in recent years.

“It’s tatty on the outside and just as tatty on the inside – there’s dampness coming up through the walls and floors.

“We’ve spoken to various grant bodies and I’m afraid that the outlook is not looking optimistic."

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