Pressure mounts on Cheshire East to pause auction of Brookfield Hall

Town councillors have backed a campaigner to call for Cheshire East Council to pause any auction of Brookfield Hall in Nantwich.

Sam James is spearheading a campaign to save the hall and turn it into a community asset for local groups to use.

It comes as Cheshire East were set to auction off the hall off Shrewbridge Hall for around £150,000.

Ms James appeared at the town council meeting last night calling for its support for her “Brookfield Hall for Community Use” campaign, which now has more than 100 people signed up.

She is to submit an application to CEC that the hall should be classified as an “Asset of Community Value” (ACV) and therefore not sold off into private hands.

She also said around 21 local organisations and support groups in and around the town had already contacted her to say they would use the hall if it could be saved.

“The community capacity to use this space already exists,” she said. “The support has been overwhelming.

“The vision we have for the space supports a lot of the town council’s priorities. We have a business plan and a five-year financial forecast. It is viable.”

Cllr Geoff Smith said he had received assurances from council officers that the auction would be paused until the end of July so alternative uses could be explored.

He told the council last night (June 11th): “It seems we’ve got some time now to develop this plan, we are entering into the next phase with our eyes wide open.”

Crewe & Nantwich MP Connor Naismith has also requested a delay to the auction.

He said he has written to the Interim Director of Place at Cheshire East Council to request that the planned auction is delayed to allow for community organisations to explore sustainable funding alternatives for the site.

“I completely understand that the council need to make difficult decisions to make sure that public funding is spent well.

“However, the disposal of sites like Brookfield Hall – which have a demonstrable community value – should always be done in consultation with residents.

“Where there is appetite, local groups must be given the opportunity to present alternative plans for assets before they are put to auction. I don’t believe sufficient time has been allocated for community engagement.”

The town council voted in favour of the campaign to save the hall and are to write to Cheshire East Council.