Historic village hall to be demolished and replaced

A VILLAGE hall will be torn down to make way for a new version.Saltoun Community Association (SCA) is keen to see Fletcher Hall, on East Saltoun’s Main Street, demolished in preparation for a new hall on the same site.The hall has been at the heart of village life for generations, with the local primary school holding its Christmas carol services, sports days and shows at the hall, which is used by community groups for parties, classes and fundraising events.East Lothian Council gave permission for the existing hall, which dates back a century, to be demolished last week, while a second set of plans for the new hall were given the green light on Tuesday.It is not yet known when work on the project could get under way, with the demolition and creation of a new hall expected to take about six months.Mrs Bronsdon said that the whole project could cost in the region of £500,000, although there is no exact cost as of yet.According to the plans, the hall has “a significant amount” of asbestos, while the building also has no insulation in the walls, roof or floor.A new, more efficient heating system will be installed in the new hall.Mrs Bronsdon said that the new hall, which will also be used by pupils at Saltoun Primary School, would make a real difference.The new hall will be slightly larger than the existing facility and will see a range of upgrades, with access to the building improved, as well as the kitchen and heating.The hall is named after the Fletcher family, who owned land at East and West Saltoun in the mid-17th century.The building was gifted to the community a century ago and is managed by the association, a registered charity.One person objected to the demolition of the century-old hall, urging that it should be restored rather than destroyed and should be treated as a listed building. However, planning officers said it had no special architectural or historic interest.