Group vows to transform New Luce war memorial hall

A CHARITY group that has upgraded a community hall vows to take its development to the next level if they are granted full ownership of the facility.

New Luce Memorial Hall has been operated by a committee made up of volunteers for 12 years.

And in the past five years, they have been responsible for the installation of a fitness suite, an IT centre, full cinema facilities, and furnishing the building.

The hall committee has also installed EV chargers and added designated parking bays outside.

In addition, it serves as the community resilience centre for the village and houses a defibrillator.

The New Luce Memorial Hall SCIO has now submitted an application to Dumfries and Galloway Council to be given ownership of the building under a community asset transfer deal.

Councillors will next week consider transferring full ownership – valued at £100,000 – effectively for free.

If agreed, the SCIO have pledged to develop the hall for wider community use. Their application stated: “The committee is made up of ten local volunteers from the community with a wide range of skills and experience which helps make the facility run well and professionally.

“Both the local community and visitors have commented on what a well-run community facility we have in New Luce – this is testament to the volunteers, their skills and their time they give.”

A five-year business plan has been prepared setting out a range of developments, including a full refurbishment of the building.

The application adds: “We are very fortunate that in New Luce we receive large amounts of money from local windfarms. Both the New Luce Trust and Community Council who receive these funds have pledged financial support for the hall on an ongoing basis.

“We feel we are in a very unique position that we can and will be able to take this building forward and make it an even better community asset than what it is at present.”