VILLAGE hall trustees have described the “sincere regret” felt after a parish council opted to dissolve its partnership with the venue’s committee and take over the management itself.

Dodderhill Parish Council (DPC) needs to have its second stage application sent to Wychavon District Council by November 15 in the hopes of getting a share of the £3million scheme to pay for a village hall refurbishment.

During an extraordinary meeting of the council last month, chairman Alyson Keane said the committee favoured holding off on applying for funding until next year – though no committee members were present.

The motion, eventually voted through, was for the council itself to take over the management of the hall and issue the committee with 30 days notice of its intention to press ahead with the application alone, as had been requested.

READ MORE: Friction as council opts to dissolve hall committee partnership in dispute over funding

The trustees’ statement, posted to Facebook page Wychbold Village Hall on Thursday, said the final day of their management would be November 29.

“At this stage, it is unclear what will happen to bookings after November 29,” it continued. “We would hope the council will honour these bookings, mirroring our terms and conditions.”

Wychbold Village Hall charitable trust was established in 1929, with the original hall building located on Crown Lane, moving to its current location on School Lane in the 1960s.

“The ongoing relationship between members of both Dodderhill Parish Council and the Wychbold Village Hall committee has deteriorated rapidly over the last 12 months, unfortunately now resulting in an uncompromised position,” the trustees said.

“Once the parish council’s Legacy Fund application process is completed, Wychbold Village Hall charity will have the opportunity to enter into a formal lease/tenancy agreement with the parish council should it wish to do so.”

The trustees thanked all hall users, stakeholders and friends for their “ongoing support”.

In October 2018, Cllr Keane had proposed her management firm take over works at the hall in return for 10 per cent of the profits, which was consider a “huge conflict of interest”.

At a full meeting in February, the council agreed to attempt to recover £2,700 in expenses it believes it’s owed by the village hall committee.

This has been disputed by the committee.