Foxton hall’s fate up in the air

• Published date: 12 April 2024
• Author: Janine Baalbergen
• Publication title: Horowhenua Chronicle

“They have got all these plans for growth and with so many other halls closing there is nowhere to do line dancing, exercise classes, weddings or funerals. Selling it off does not make sense. We need more community space, not less

Local councillors representing the Foxton community said, “Independent advice on the potential future cost of strengthening the Foxton War Memorial Hall based on what we know was obtained, and while detailed investigation work would be required to get a more definitive cost, the estimate of up to $2 million in today’s market and to meet current building code are real.”

“Recent polls show that 66 per cent of residents want the hall transferred to a community group. Only 20 per cent want the council to save it and 14 per cent are okay with a sell-off on the open market,” Fox said.

The fact that the council announced this round of consultation last Friday afternoon, has raised her ire. “We sat down with them on Tuesday of last week and were told the announcement would go out on Wednesday. Instead, they did it at just before 2pm last Friday, catching a lot of people off-guard.”

She also questions the local councillors’ motivation. “Some of them were on the council in 2014 when selling was first suggested. They have had 10 years to fix the building’s earthquake problems but they haven’t done anything. Where is their duty of care for their community?

“They just let it slide and at the same time were okay with making it very hard for people to hire the hall, which accounts for the downturn of bookings. They could have put in place a targeted rate then, so there would be money for it now. Why didn’t they?”

She said she was told there is another community group interested in acquiring the building, but the council is refusing to disclose who this might be. “It is very disappointing that there are other people involved in this who have not come forward to help us,” Fox said.

The society will be issuing submission forms locals can use to have their say. “People need to do this and also realise that any which way this will cost them money, be it through fundraising for community ownership or a through a targeted rate through the council.”

She said as an incorporated society they would be able to get substantial funding to help pay for the fix. “The council cannot do that. They have to raise rates.”

She also said she believes the council is employing scare tactics to get their way such as using inflated price tags, which, she said, are not...