PEOPLE in Garway have launched a fundraising campaign to try and save their old village hall from demolition.

A new energy efficient Passivhaus design hall was opened in 2018 and the plan was to sell the former hall site if 75 per cent or more of villagers at a public meeting agree.

The trustees responsible for the hall assured residents during a vote last year that they would look for a sympathetic buyer who was offering some community benefit.

Cara Campbell, who is part of a group of locals who are also hoping to raise enough money to save the building, says it could have a new life as an arts centre.

“So far we’ve raised £37,000 from stakeholder investors, but we need more to buy the building, so we started a crowd funder at http://www.gofundme.com/f/save-Garway-hall.

“Longer term we aim to add residential capacity, to allow people from further afield to come and experience this lovely place.”

She said a graffiti of two rats, one with a briefcase and umbrella, another with a white flag has appeared on the door and there’s a wrecking ball painted near them.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Banksy,” Ms Campbell said.

“This hall is a cultural icon; It was named as Borderline film festival’s favourite venue.

“It was praised by the world class musicians who performed here, including Linda Lee Lewis and Amy Wadge. And its rural charm inspired Bruce Chatwin when he came here in the late 1970s, researching his novel ‘On the Black hill’.

“It’s been cared for by generations of villagers for nearly 100 years and we don’t want this part of our heritage consigned to landfill when it could be reused for social, educational and environmental benefit.”