Rooms in danger of closing (From Salisbury Journal)

Rooms in danger of closing

12:17pm Friday 22nd August 2008

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A HISTORIC building in Fordingbridge is in danger of closing unless the community rallies around to raise funds and make use of it.

The Victoria Rooms, situated on Bridge Street in the town, date back to 1875.

Before this there was a British School on the site in the 1830s, which became a sail cloth store in 1861 when the school moved to Roundhill.

The building was then bought by Thomas Westlake in 1874 and rebuilt as a mission hall in 1875, before being transferred to a charitable trust by Earnest Westlake in 1884.

Over the years that followed the Victorian Rooms had various uses including for concerts, lectures, baby clinics, theatres and youth activities.

In 1999 the building had a major upgrade with an extension to the rear, a stair lift, new cloakrooms, kitchen and external store.

But now the building is in need of some attention, especially the front wall, which has water damage from the broken guttering and cement from between the bricks coming out.

There are tiles missing on the rook and windows that need attention.

Martin Cracknell, who is working with the current trustees and supporters on the community rooms, said: "We have a real asset in the Victoria Rooms - we can use it to meet the needs of the community. Many of those community needs were identified in the recent Market Town Health Check, especially activities attracting the young."

Mr Cracknell told the Forest Journal that closure of the Victoria rooms is not what the town wants and will only result in an empty shell of no use to anybody.

"We do need the support of the community and their involvement to get this to work."

He said new trustees are needed to run and manage the building and people to fundraise, organise events and promote the Victoria Rooms.

There will be a public meeting on Wednesday September 17 at 7.30pm in the Victoria Rooms.

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