Lymington Town Hall saved - for now
Following a campaign from your local Lib Dem team, Conservative-run New Forest District Council has scrapped its plan to close Lymington Town Hall - for now.
New Forest District Council had told tenants, including the Town Council, they would need to leave once their leases expired in March 2027. The site would then be sold off (most likely for housing). There are many different organisations based in the Town Hall - such as the Town Council, National Park, Citizen’s Advice and the Police. The Police only recently moved into the Town Hall after the Police Station was sold off for retirement flats. Crucially, it also holds an information desk where residents can access council services, such as buying a parking clock or paying their rent, face-to-face.
Were the Town hall to be sold off, all of these organisations and facilities would have been lost - with no guarantee they would be able to find another suitable location in the town.
Both the Conservatives and Labour backed the plan to close the Town Hall. However, your local Lib Dem team campaigned hard to stop this from happening - and keep the Town Hall serving local people.
Following the news that New Forest District Council will be abolished in 2027 as part of local government reorganisation, Cllr Jack Davies asked again about the future of the Town Hall. Jack asked for the tenants' leases to be extended and for any closure plans to be suspended. Following a holding response of “we don't know”, confirmation was given by the Leader of the Council that all plans for the Town hall have been suspended and tenants will be allowed to remain beyond the expiry of their leases in March 2027.
Whilst the short-term future has been secured, the long-term future of the Town Hall is still uncertain. Liberal Democrat Councillors will work hard to secure the long-term future of the Town Hall - to keep it in the hands of the community.
Jack Davies, Lib Dem Councillor for Pennington said:
“We need to keep our Town Hall in Lymington. Not everything can be done by email or over the phone.
“I’m proud that the local Lib Dems stood up for our town when the Conservatives and Labour both wanted to demolish the Town Hall for housing.”