Town council launches campaign to save Legion (From Bucks Free Press)

Town council launches campaign to save Legion

3:20pm Wednesday 29th July 2009 in News By Simon Farr

PRINCES Risborough town councillors vowed to do “all they can” to save the Royal British Legion Memorial Hall at a packed town council meeting last night.

About 50 people crammed into the small meeting room of Chapter House and a further 50 were turned away at the door as legion members turned out in force to air their fears over the possible closure of the branch.

The national charity's board of trustees are looking for a buyer for the Bell Street club after a £600,000 revamp in October failed to boost membership and cash returns.

The council decided it would write a letter demanding a meeting with the board in the coming weeks.

The letter will also state that the council is “seriously considering the option to purchase” the Memorial Hall, while a public meeting will be held in three weeks time.

Cllr Gary Hall said: “That Memorial Hall was built by the people of Risborough for the people of Risborough on the blessing of our predecessors and I am very concerned we may lose that site.

“We have to do something and we have to be quick, decisive and make some very, very important decisions on our plans for the hall before we meet with Legion HQ.

“It is crucial we do all we can to keep that building and the branch for the people of this town.”

The venue is one of nine branches around the UK handed money by the trustees, which has given itself a deadline of the end of August to sell off the struggling branches.

If that fails, the board will auction the nine venues off individually as a 'last resort'.

A spokesperson for the Risborough branch of the legion told the meeting they had been quoted a “conservative price of around £350,000 for the freehold of the building."

Or the branch will have to "find £24,500 to fund the rental price as long as an Original Legion Club is installed and a viable business plan is provided by August 12.”

Town councillors said they will discuss potential business ventures for the hall in the coming days in a bid to put together a business plan, while a consortium scheme was also discussed.

Town Mayor and Council Chairman Alan Turner called on legion members and residents to “come together” to save the branch.

He added: “Every time I switch on the news at the moment I see soldiers in Afghanistan either injured or dying who need the help and support provided by charities such as the Legion.

“If the board of trustees refuse to meet us on this, then we need to get the local people and the press to put pressure on them to ensure we save the hall.”

Before the meeting closed to public questions, a number of residents addressed the council asking for its help.

Former branch chairman and vice president Tony Collier said: “I have been a member of the legion since the 70s and it is far more than just a drinking hole.

“It is responsible for welfare work in the community, transporting people to hospitals for appointments, arranging home visits, organising the Poppy Appeal in the town and of course Remembrance Sunday.

“We also run a Wednesday bingo club which has 100 members and monthly meetings to uphold the purpose of the Royal British Legion - we must save it.”

The public meeting will be held on either Wednesday, August 12 or Thursday, August 13. Details are due to be confirmed next week.