'Hall is for all' vows council (From Barry And District News)

'Hall is for all' vows council

THE ROW over Barry Memorial Hall took a new twist this week when a leading town councillor revealed its finances have been vastly improved under a new manager.

And he promised "No-one will be left out" if they want to use the facility. But his defence of the way the Memorial Hall is being run coincided with a complaint that it had become the bar with no beer and had spoiled a local sports group's presentation night.

Cllr Richard Bertin, the hall's vice-chairman, contacted the News to give the council's side of the case amid growing disquiet about alleged elitism and rising charges for local groups.

He said: "It's very unfair for groups to say the Barry Memorial Hall is becoming elitist.

"The Hall has been under-used and highly subsidised for many years and now we're seeing vast improvements since the appointment of new manager Kate Long."

He added: "We're looking to improve the centre and develop it by encouraging full inclusive usage by all groups and organisations. No-one will be left out."

But this week Barry Darts League told the News they were upset at service at their presentation evening last Friday.

"We paid £180 to hold our presentation evening at the Hall and a further £300 for a group and disco until midnight.

:By 10pm, the bar had run out of one beer and one lager. People left early, and our raffle that normally raises about £150 managed a meagre £64."

Barry Town Council executive officer Ian Harris said: "The bitter did run out, and while changing the barrel we discovered it had gone off, despite being within its sell-by date. While dealing with this, the lager ran out. We handled the situation quickly while continuing to serve two full bars. In total, the beer and lager were off for no more than 20 minutes."

In the latest attack on "elitism" one reader complained bitterly of a "Japanese dirge' staged at the hall

"Every week, I hear of more groups put off by increased charges," said the reader.