WOODLANDS Hall, which provides educational and other activities for the residents of the Heatherlands estate in Headley Down, is to close.

The Headley Down Community Association, formed as a charity in 1977 to advance education and provide facilities in the interests of social welfare, particularly for the residents of the Heatherlands estate, will close on October 30 due to a lack of funding and with the loss of seven jobs.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the trustees said: “It is with sadness and regret that we are announcing the closure of the Headley Down Community Association.

“Unfortunately and despite the best efforts of the staff and trustees, we have been unable to secure any substantial new funding to maintain our viability and security going forward.

“Woodlands Hall will close at the end of October and the Headley Down Community Association will be winding up as a charity soon after, and sadly this will mean the loss of seven part-time jobs.

“Staff have been inf-ormed and we are doing all we can to support them during this difficult time.

“We know that this will be a big disappointment to local residents, many of whom, like trustees, have had a long and happy association with our organisation and the events and activities that we have provided at Woodlands Hall.

“We can look back with some happy and fond memories and rightly be very proud of what we have achieved as a community association with the support of local residents

“We are in talks with East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council and Community First to explore how Woodlands Hall can continue to provide a venue for local events, activities and clubs.”

The trustees promised to inform people about any clubs that do survive the closure or which start up again.

“We will also notify residents about whom to contact about the future use of Woodlands Hall just as soon as that has been agreed with East Hampshire District Council,” the trustees said.

The management committee will be holding a meeting at Woodlands Hall, in Larch Road, Headley Down, on Thursday, November 5, at 4pm to recommend the charity be dissolved, and residents of Heatherlands estate are invited to attend.

The announcement of the closure will be a shock not just to Heatherlands residents, but to the community in general because the Headley Down Community Association has provided a wealth of activities and social events for several generations in Woodlands Hall.

It is clear the team and their activities will be very much missed, including by the youngsters who attend the Woodlands pre-school, children’s and youth clubs.

At the hall, teenagers and pre-teens have enjoyed discos and fancy dress events, while pre-school children received their first educational steps there, as well as learning how to mix with each other.

There was also adult and community learning, with a range of choices of classes including maths, yoga, keep fit, writing a CV, computer skills, Photoshop, gardening and nutrition.

The topics were chosen following a door-to-door survey around Heather-lands.

Improvements were made to the hall in 2003, and since then there have been more carried out, with better parking and more open space provided.

* Those with questions about the clubs or activities are asked call in to Woodlands Hall or e-mail [email protected].