Aileen Campbell, SNP MSP for South of Scotland, has offered her support to representatives of users of the Jubilee Hall, Lesmahagow, who have arranged a special meeting to discuss the next steps in the campaign to save the Hall from planned closure. 

The meeting, to be held in the Jubilee Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 9^th March, will bring together members from different groups who use the hall regularly, as well as staff from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and the Lanarkshire Association of Local Voluntary Organisation (ALVO).  Aileen has also invited representatives from the Big Lottery Fund to attend, in the hope that they can provide information about funding options for exploring a possible community purchase of the Hall.

 “I’m happy to support this initiative, which has been led by the user groups themselves. 

“After all the expressions of public concern, plus the recent debate in the Scottish Parliament, it makes sense to get folk together now and seriously consider what the next steps are for the campaign to save the hall. 

“Going down the road of community purchase is not a decision to take lightly, which is why it will be good to have representatives present from organisations such as SCVO and ALVO who can advise on what would need to be done. 

“If anyone’s interested in coming along to the meeting, they can contact my office on 08456 026 076 or 0131 348 6573 for more information. 

“Of course the Council still has the opportunity to reverse its decision and save the Jubilee Hall.  The Council has been pleading poverty of late, but it is prepared to spend over £1million on the Fountain Hall.  The Jubilee could be given a lick of paint and kept open for much less.”