Grendon Hall: Lib Dems launch plan to save it

4.24.45pm GMT Tue 31st Jan 2006

Grendon Hall should not just be saved, it should be expanded and improved to provide an even better service to more young people in Northamptonshire, says the Lib Dem group on Northamptonshire County Council.

'Grendon Hall could be run at less cost or even no cost at all to the County Council', says Lib Dem group leader Richard Church. 'It just needs to offer more places to young people to get the income it needs, often it has to turn young people away. Grendon needs the opportunity to attract external investment to provide more beds and better dining facilities. Such money is available, such as from the national lottery, but to get it Grendon Hall needs to be run by an independent charitable trust.'

'The Tory run County Council has taken an entirely blinkered view of Grendon Hall. They are taking panic measures that fail to look beyond one year's budget, and are destroying a service that is worth much more than the amount they will save. Grendon Hall has huge potential to attract national funding, and to deny it that opportunity is unbelievably short sighted.

'The Tories need to be honest with Northamptonshire people, and tell us if the real reason for their closure plans is simply to get the cash from the sale of the building.

'The County Council should look carefully at our proposal to turn Grendon Hall into a charitable trust, run by local people who care about providing for young people and committed to keeping Grendon for future generations.'