The charity that has managed Llantilio Pertholey Community Hall for the past 30 years has been dissolved following a long-running dispute with the community council who own the building.

The former trustees – known as the Hall Management Committee (HMC) - want to clarify what they describe as ‘the most unfortunate and confusing situation regarding the day-to-day management of the hall during the past twelve months’.

As of May 31, the 30-year lease signed in 1984, though temporarily extended by Llantilio Pertholey Community Council, has been terminated.

With no new satisfactory lease offered by the present council, under the leadership of Councillor G G Cowan, the HMC say that, other than taking what they regard as unfair treatment to a Lease Tribunal, they had ‘no reasonable opportunity’ to continue their ‘highly successful management of the Hall’.

Since November 2015 there had been a dispute between the HMC and community council over hall booking fees, which the HMC said were rightfully theirs but were being deposited in a bank account belonging to the community council.

With the help of Gwent Police and the community council’s solicitors Watkins Gunn, a resolution was finally achieved, with monies held in the separate account transferred to the official HMC account at Lloyds Bank.

This has now enabled HMC to follow the correct procedure for the Charity Dissolution.

Final cash assets have been distributed to other local charities and organisations including St Teilo’s Church while all of the equipment and furniture purchased by the HMC has been left for future use within the facilities offered at the Hall.

These benefits and improved facilities include new seating, a P.A system with T-Loop, bingo equipment, large film screen, electronic whiteboards, more efficient LED strip lighting, motion sensor main lighting, new kitchen refurbishment with refrigerator, cooker and microwave, and a multi choice drinks machine.

Also with grant assistance HMC has installed at the Hall a new gas boiler and shower facilities in the changing rooms, new toilet block with less mobile and mother/toddler facility, and conversion of attic store room into a council meeting room.

Latterly the HMC contributed £12,000 towards the community hall car park extension project.

Marion Tucker, Chair of the HMC charity, and her fellow trustees - Phil Jones, Allan Brown, Glyn Jordan, Pauline Williams, Gill Creighton and Norman Murdoch - are keen to thank all hall users for their loyal support over many years.

“We wish you, as individuals and group members, well for the future and trust that you will continue to enjoy the facilities offered at the Community Hall,” they said.

The Trustees say they have ended their 30-year association with the Hall ‘with extreme sadness’ and are still very annoyed with the way this came about.