PLANS for a community hall have been ‘shelved’ after the majority of the townspeople who took part in a public consultation voted against it.

Following the recent poll when every elector in Pershore was given the opportunity to vote on the Community Hall project, the vote showed the vast majority of residents who voted were against a new community hall being built on the field off Defford Road.

The turnout saw nearly 50 per cent of the electorate returning their voting slips with 2,290 no votes and 695 yes votes.

The project has cost the council around £54,000, without the costs of the recent consultation.

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Ann Dobbins, Pershore Town Clerk said the spending of the money: “was agreed by the council following two consultations that showed residents wanted it to go ahead. It was the cost of taking us through it with an architect, right through to getting planning permission with various other reports that are required to get planning permission.”

The council met on the afternoon of the count and agreed unanimously to “shelve” the community hall project on the Defford Road site.

Jacqui Marler, from Pershore Football Club and an active part of the opposition to the project said: “It goes without saying that we were thrilled with the high turnout in response to this consultation. Over 48% of 8,000 residents took the time and effort to vote which is higher than most elections!”

“Around 60 residents also took the time to attend the meeting that evening. Whilst we are hesitant about the use of the word “shelved” it was clarified at that meeting by the mayor that they would not be building a community hall in that cemetery field. So we have to take them at their word and thank them for listening to the overwhelming majority.” She added they would remain vigilant.