THE LONG-RUNNING dispute between the trustees of Alcester’s Greig Hall and Stratford District Council is set to go on a little longer.
A court hearing is set to decide who will run the centre, which was a gift made to the people of Alcester by businessman and philanthropist David Greig in memory of his late wife Hannah Susan Greig.
The council is locked in a legal battle with the trustees after the council announced plans last year to take over the hall, which closed in 2013.
Residents had raised a petition calling for the hall to be re-opened for community use.
At a hearing at Leamington Justice Centre on Wednesday the judge ‘struck out’ the defence provided by the trustees and gave them an opportunity to provide a revised defence within the next 28 days.
And while the battle rumbles on, the former users of the memorial hall have formed a charity called Friends of Greig Hall, to raise money towards any future work.
The group has opened a shop called ‘Home 2 Home’ in Alcester’s Hopkin’s Precinct and say it has already proved a success.
Sheilagh Goode, who spearheaded the campaign in 2017 encouraging the council to take back control, told the Observer: “The shop is doing remarkably well and I’m sure it’s because so many people have an such an affinity and affection for the hall.
The public interest and support has been amazing.
“We are confident the hall will soon return to its intended use and want to ask people to please keep giving and donating. The more we raise, the sooner we will have our memorial hall back.”
The shop sells furniture and household items – and donations and volunteers are still needed.
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