TRELLECH residents have been warned that if they don't use their community hall on a regular basis, it will close.

The hall trust, which runs the Babington Centre that reuses a Victorian building which was originally designed for use as the village school, is now facing tough times as the recession bites deeper.

The trustees who have run the centre for the past 18 years are facing an estimated shortfall in funds of around £2,000 and needs the community to make more use of it for social events to cover overheads.

Currently the Busy Bodies Playgroup use the centre in the mornings on a daily basis during term time, but the income generated is not enough to meet the centre's overheads.

Trust treasurer Fred Kemp warns that the Babington Centre is underused and if the situation does not change the site would have to be sold for housing.

He added: "The centre's main support has been from the Busy Bodies Playgroup and additionally we receive extra income by hosting film shows and farmers' markets as well as a few individual lettings as a means of raising funds.

"But the centre remains unused by the community for most of the time which has meant that over the past 11 years we've lost over £2,000 and therefore we are not building up any reserves for the future."

Mr Kemp predicts that as a Grade II listed building maintenance costs will outstrip income.

"We cannot carry on with the present loss. I'd like to use the rugby phrase 'use it or lose it'," he said. 

"I'm afraid that is where we are now and the trustees would reluctantly have to consider selling the building and the land for housing and reusing the proceeds for distributing educational grants to the children of the village."   

Views on the centre's plight are being invited at a public meeting on Monday, April 12, at the Babington Centre at 7pm. The meeting is being hosted by Trellech United Community Council.