THE Lister Hall, an historic and popular venue in Dursley, has been under threat of closure for the last five years as the Lister Club have struggled to pay for increasing bills and the cost of renovations. The hall needs a substantial amount of money for refurbishment and to repair the roof.

The Gazette has launched a campaign to save the Lister Hall and this week Gazette reporter Claire Marshall finds that the local community are working together to find ways to save the hall.

THE fate of the Lister Hall is now in the hands of local councillors, who will decide whether a community grant will be spent on renovating the hall.

Serious talks have been taking place between councillors and community organisations about whether the venue can be saved and turned into a multi-use facility for Dursley and Cam.

The GL11 Stakeholders group, which includes every parish, town, district and county councillor from Cam and Dursley, will advise Stroud District Council on where to spend a grant of around £300,000, which has come from the Littlecombe development, in Dursley.

Cllr Hilary Fowles, a member of the GL11 group, said: "The money will almost certainly be shared between the Dursley Community Centre, the Cam community development in Chapel Street and the Lister Hall."

At a meeting about the Lister Hall last month it was explained that a share of the grant would not be enough to renovate the whole of the hall.

But with some fundraising and support from the community, it could be transformed into a multi-use building for theatre performances, dance classes, charity events, and possibly weekly film screenings.

However Rednock School has come forward to say that the new school may be able to provide a large drama hall that will hold 400 people.

Cllr Brian Marsh, who attended the Lister Hall meeting on behalf of Dursley Town Council, said: "Renock School can offer a drama hall at a very high standard for 400 people and possibly a bar run by the community centre.

"However, the hall will be closed for six weeks during exam period and will not be available during the daytime.

"The question is can Rednock School meet all the needs of the community or could the Lister Hall do it better?"

Frankie Telford, chairwoman of the DODS, said: "The Lister Hall gives the whole theatre experience, rather than a school hall, which doesn't have the same ambience.

"We are still not sure what the Rednock hall is going to offer and we do not know how available it will be.

"I do not think people in Dursley actually realise that if the Lister Hall does go, there will be nothing to replace it in Dursley.

"If they understand this then it is up to them whether they support the campaign to save it."