IN response to Alison Sinclair's letter (March 15), why was the Haxby Memorial Hall not demolished when it ceased to be used as a school?

The school was bought by the parish council for use by the people - not because it was considered an architectural gem, or for sentimental reasons.

It was bought as a village hall, not as a memorial. It was given to trustees and the property was vested in the Charity Commissioners for the benefit of Haxby people.

The population of Haxby is now almost 10,000. The hall is inadequate and in a bad state of repair. The trustees are struggling to erect a sound edifice which will meet the present day needs of the people, whose tastes, and expectations, have changed. The cost of this is estimated at £1.7 million.

If the existing faade or other elements are kept there will be an additional amount in value added tax, as levied on conversions but not on new builds. If the building were listed all would be lost. The trustees would be unable to rebuild the structure, could not afford to maintain it as an architectural or historic gem and could not fulfil their obligations to the Charity Commission.

Why should the hall trustees persevere? There is little prospect of raising the required amount. Most of the cost would, inevitably, have to be met by the people of Haxby from the precept.

Meanwhile, trustees are sitting on an asset in the buildings and site which, if sold for development, could bring in, perhaps, more then £2 million. This could be used to build an up-to-date sports and leisure centre on another site which would cater for a much larger proportion of the population than does the existing hall.

Kenneth Holdsworth,

Usher Park Road,

Haxby,

York.

Updated: 11:03 Thursday, March 17, 2005