The Friends of the Victoria Hall (FoVH) have written an open letter to the Victoria Hall Trust (VHT) about what plans the Trust has to reopen the Victoria Hall following a recent ruling by the Charity Commission.
In September 2023, Ealing Council, as one of the Trustees of VHT, closed the hall along with Ealing Town Hall by saying it was due to unspecified health and safety issues.
The move by FoVH follows the publication on 3 July 2024 of the Charity Commission’s review of VHT. In a statement, the Friends said it “would pave the way for Ealing Council to take over the Trust’s property and allow it to be part of the 250 year Ealing Town Hall lease to convert the buildings into a luxury hotel.”
FoVH also said a trustee Committee with a majority of independent members will manage the trust. Currently three independent members are in place and two more are set to be appointed. FoVH wants them to be selected by the Committee, rather than by Council officers which it says has happened before.
Roger Green, chair of FoVH said: “The Victoria Hall along with Prince’s Hall below it were built by the people of Ealing, for the people of Ealing, during the 1880s. Victoria Hall Trust was set up in 1893 by Ealing residents for both halls to be used by all the citizens of the town.”
Mr Green added: “For 10 months now the Victoria Hall and Prince’s Hall have been unavailable for use. VHT’S primary function is to enable the local community to use both halls, and associated facilities. VHT is clearly unfit for purpose and we are appalled that the Charity Commission is condoning this failure by the charity”.
The open letter calls for a newly constituted executive committee consisting of a majority of independent members along with fully costed plans to address health and safety issues raised by Ealing Council and fix them. It also seeks clarification of the charitable property and a strategy for reviving Victoria Hall’s role for the community.
 have written an open letter to the Victoria Hall Trust (VHT) asking to know what plans the Trust has to reopen the Victoria Hall following a recent ruling by the Charity Commission.){kind=link}