AFTER more than 50 years, 1st Bulwark Scout Group is being forced to consider the future of its scout hall as the building desperately needs maintenance.

The group is searching for options that would allow it to remain in the building but extensive costs mean they are looking at all options.

According to treasurer Cathy Allen the scout hall provides the perfect venue for the group’s needs but it requires a lot of work.

“It is a fantastic space, a great size for the young people to run around and put tents up inside and there is an outside space for young people to start fires and hang hammocks without bothering anyone else.

“It is perfect from that perspective but it needs serious maintenance, at a minimum the roof needs repairing but it really could use replacing.

“In an ideal world we need a complete refurbishment but that will cost around £350,000 and we are unlikely to get lottery funding or any funding for that much.”

Other options considered by the group include buying or building another hall, possibly in conjunction with another organisation or selling the property, but both have their problems.

Mrs Allen said: “We need to stay in Bulwark because the families need to get there, and for most that means they need to be within walking distance. Other potential buildings are nowhere near as big so young people don’t have room to let off steam.

“Selling is one of the potential options but it not the option we want. We own our own property but the land on which it was built was given to us with certain covenants on it.”

The covenant placed on the land when it was sold to the group by the then Chepstow District Urban Council in 1963 was the that the land had to provide for the community. So any potential buyer must meet that requirement before it is purchased from Monmouthshire County Council which is now responsible.

“We could sell it, but who would want to buy it with the covenant on it?” Mrs Allen said.

The situation is putting a lot of pressure on the group which would rather be focusing its efforts on providing a great experience for young people and playing a vital role in the community.

The 1st Bulwark Scouts has around 60 members spread across three groups: beavers, cubs and scouts.

Mrs Allen said: “We are a facility for the community, and it’s allowed families to allow young people to experience things they have never done before, we try to give them experiences their families can’t give.

“Last year we got to go to the Fleet Air Arm Museum Yeovilton which meant they could all do another badge. Most had never been there but we took a lot of people who have never been to what is an amazing museum.”

Recently the group was able to raise around £5,000 to complete some maintenance, but unless they can raise a significant amount more the building will continue to deteriorate.

Mrs Allen said: “We raised money to treat for woodworm and put new doors in to stop the vermin getting in. We are doing work on a critical basis first but we don’t have the money. Sooner or later it won’t be habitable and we don’t want that option.”

The group will continue to search for ways to raise the money it needs, be it via grants, donations through the community or businesses but in the meantime it will continue to provide for the young people that attend.