STARTLING news of the proposed closure of a popular Chepstow building has caused outrage in the town.

The news on the expected demise of Drill Hall comes ahead of a cabinet meeting to be held today, which will also see Monmouthshire council propose 70 redundancies and a reduction in some services, as the authority tries to keep its council tax rise down to 3.4 per cent.

This has led to claims of secrecy from some councillors - see story, page 2.

Angry about the lack of consultation concerning the matter, the town's mayor Armand Watts and his deputy Ned Haywood say they are united in their horror and disbelief.

Cllr Watts said: "Chepstow's historic Drill Hall looks set to close without warning. We question the legitimacy of the decision taken by the Monmouthshire County Council and the lack of discussion with any member of the community. We will be looking to take action to bring the all powerful MCC to account."

"The Drill Hall has a unique atmosphere and is by far the best large indoor performance/exhibition space available in Chepstow," continued Cllr Watts. "It has been a successful venue for very many years. Many elderly people will remember it as a venue for auctions and local community dances. In fact, a number of people reading this will of probably have met their husbands or wives at the Hall."

Chepstow Museum recently mounted a series of high quality educational events at the Drill Hall, associated with the 60th anniversary celebrations of the end of the Second World War.

Cllr Heywood has worked closely with exhibitions held at the hall. He said: "All of these events and exhibitions have been powerful and evocative and have had a great impact on many who have attended them.

"In addition to the public events thousands of school children visited the 'Their Past, Your Future' exhibition and had the chance to discover through handling objects and activities, about life on the home front in the Second World War. They also had a special opportunity to talk to, and ask questions of, a panel of Second World War veterans."

Cllr Graham Down, Cabinet member for finance and budgetary control said: "We have an extremely difficult budget this year. We have had to look at all services to find ways of saving money. It is not going to get any easier next year. This is one of the possibilities we will consider."

Mr Down went on to say this year's budget will se the lowest rise in council tax at 3.4 percent.

"If we are going to keep council tax down we are going to have to cut back on other services," he continued. "While I appreciate the Drill Hall is a popular facility in Chepstow. It was felt it was a saving which could be made."

Cllr. Matthew Jones who represents the St Mary's ward said, "The council has spent 15 years building up the educational resource centre at the Drill Hall. All this is now to be thrown in the bin all because one department of the council seriously overspent. The use of the Drill Hall has been controversial over the years because community groups could not get access for public events. That said, it now looks as if for the time being the doors will be permanently shut to everyone.

"We have a shortage of venues for community groups and events in Chepstow and the Drill Hall is perfectly situated with ample car parking to make a major contribution to community life in the town."

He added, "Chepstow Town Council has expressed its unhappiness of the years about the use of the Drill Hall. I know that the County Council are open to the idea of some group taking over the running of the building.

There may well be a role for the Town Council to step in. I will certainly raise this issue at the Town Council."