Community group secure 25-year lease for hall

The future of a village hall has been secured after councillors agreed to lease it to a community group.

Leeds City Council has approved a Community Asset Transfer for Greenacre Hall in Rawdon.

It means the building will be officially taken over by Aireborough Voluntary Services to the Elderly with Disabilities (AVSED).

The group will run social groups, fitness classes and dementia support for people in Rawdon, Guiseley and Yeadon under a 25-lease.

A council report said the group first moved into the hall on New Road Side as a tenant in 2023.

It said: "This created a functioning office space for their staff and volunteer team and increased capacity for groups and services, resulting in membership doubling over the last couple of years.

"They currently have over 800 members and offer health and social well-being services to over 300 residents every week, providing preventative health and community-focused well-being services."

The asset transfer was agreed by the council's executive board after AVSED submitted a business plan for the building, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The hall was previously leased to Greenacre Community Hall Association, a charity which was wound up due to a lack of people on its trust board.

AVSED drew up a five-year refurbishment plan for the building, which was previously used as a dance hall and nursery.

The report said: "Greenacre Hall is an ageing building that has seen limited investment over recent years.

"Measures that have been identified include insulation, double glazing, LED lighting and a replacement heating system."

The report said an ageing population meant there was a growing need for elderly support services.

It said: "AVSED has begun planning for this eventuality with plans to introduce a new dementia service, food provision and preventative health initiatives."

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