Horsham’s Drill Hall to stay open until Royal British Legion is ready for takeover

Horsham District Council has included almost £10,000 in the 2022/23 budget to keep the Drill Hall open until the end of June.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The handover was due to take place on April 1.

A report to a meeting of the cabinet on Thursday (March 24) showed that was unlikely to happen.

The Drill Hall in Denne Road, Horsham which will be transferred to the Royal British Legion to run.  Pic S Robards SR2110181 SUS-211018-114435001The Drill Hall in Denne Road, Horsham which will be transferred to the Royal British Legion to run.  Pic S Robards SR2110181 SUS-211018-114435001
The Drill Hall in Denne Road, Horsham which will be transferred to the Royal British Legion to run. Pic S Robards SR2110181 SUS-211018-114435001
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It said: “The Royal British Legion has recently made us aware that due to internal delays with their central surveyors and valuations teams, it is increasingly unlikely to be able to agree legal terms over the Drill Hall before the agreed handover date of 1 April 2022.”

The idea of closing the hall until the legal issues could be sorted out was rejected given the number of people who hire the facilities.

Instead, a short-term budget of £9,600 – £9,000 of income and £18,600 of expenditure – was added to the leisure services budget for 2022/23.

The report said: “The budget will enable the council to continue to operate the Drill Hall in the first quarter of 2022 whilst discussions with the Royal British Legion are finalised.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The meeting also saw the cabinet agree that three unexpected late grants would be carried over into the 2022/23 budget if unspent by March 31.

The grants were £100,000 to be spent on cyber security, £10,047 for biodiversity, and £35,000 t be spent on establishing a business case to support future funding bids.

Read More
Man, 54, dies after collision in East Sussex

For the latest breaking news where you live in Sussex, follow us on Twitter @Sussex_World and like us on Facebook @SussexWorldUK