A local businessman Dan Heneghan has criticised Kirklees Council for keeping Netherton Village Hall closed for ten years, claiming the authority missed out on hundreds of thousands of pounds in revenue. The building, located on Meltham Road in Netherton, West Yorkshire, has been shut since early 2016.
The businessman, an architectural technologist, argues that the hall could have hosted community events and activities during the decade it stood empty. He believes the council has lost a significant amount of money by failing to use the property or hand it over to local people.
Residents and groups like the Netherton and South Crosland Neighbourhood Forum have previously campaigned to take over the building. However, the council has consistently labelled the hall as a surplus asset that is no longer needed for official services.
The council has now confirmed its intention to sell the village hall at auction later in 2026. This move is part of a wider effort to address financial challenges by selling off buildings the local authority no longer operates.
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