Proposals to asset transfer a village’s community hall and library to a volunteer group have fallen through, and it is now likely to be sold.

Calderdale Council says it is now looking to dispose of Shelf Village Hall and Library in other ways, worrying ward councillors and a pre-school based there.

The building had been identified for disposal by the council back in 2020 as part of measures to balance the books.

A community group had shown interest in taking the building on, as some others in Calderdale have been, and officers worked with them for over three years to being this to fruition.

But unfortunately, the group now felt it was unable to take on the building and other options had to be sought, said council Cabinet member for Resources, Coun Silvia Dacre.

Coun Martin Hey (Green, Northowram and Shelf) and Laura Hobson of the pre-school group both asked questions at full council about the situation, raising the issue of financial commitment people made to developing the building.

Coun Hey said there was “widespread disappointment” in Shelf over the decision to sell the hall.

Residents accepted the decision was triggered by failure of the transfer but were conscious it left Shelf without an accessible community space.

Coun Hey said it was important to emphasise the council was selling land bought and then donated by Shelf Civic Society in 1965, the amount raised by public subscription being £70,000 in today’s money.

“Can I ask on behalf of residents where the Cabinet believes the council has the right to sell the land and buildings without any constraints – clearly, in 1965, people didn’t think this was going to happen.

“Can the Cabinet describe their new plan to ensure accessible community space in Shelf?”

He wanted to know if any sale would guarantee continued community use of the building or whether £70,000 would be donated back to the community to “take the lead” in finding a new community hub.

Earlier, Ms Hobson asked if Shelf Pre-school had been considered, and would the council support it moving to another premises, and what would that support look like?

“Our pre-school has invested a substantial amount of money into the building, such as a large conservatory totalling £75,000 and £28,000 into the garden – will we be compensated for this?” she said.

Coun Dacre (Lab, Todmorden) told Ms Hobson she could reassure the pre-school that council officers would be in touch with them to address any issues arising from that.

She told Coun Hey the disposal decision, alongside other Calderdale buildings deemed uneconomical for the authority to continue to operate for reasons including low usage, reasonably close alternative provision and unaffordable maintenance liabilities, was originally taken to help put the council’s finances on a sustainable footing after years of reduced Government funding to the authority.

Initially these were offered as asset transfers to interested community groups but in Shelf’s case the group had decided they were unable to progress and no-one was more disappointed than council officers after three years of work, she said.

“So, unfortunately, the council will now consider alternative options for disposal and those will take into account the history of the property that you’ve referred to.

“The council currently has no plans to re-introduce services in the area,” she said.