TRUSTEES of a community venue in Minehead are hoping to give it a new lease of life and safeguard its future.

Planning approval was granted in September to convert The Lawns in Townsend Road into two detached houses.

But organisers said this week the scheme would only be implemented if a campaign to increase the use of the building fails.

The facility started life as a luncheon club and was originally developed by local stalwart Ada Harris in the 1950s.

It is already regularly used for table tennis, tai chi sessions, exercise classes, line dancing, model railway meetings and indoor bowling.

But more use needs to be made of the venue to make it financially viable.

West Somerset Council's planning committee was told last month that the cost of maintaining the building meant expenses had exceeded income by £5,000 this year but that the building was not being used to capacity.

Now the trustees want it to become a more integrated part of the town's indoor activities and social scene.

And they say the enthusiasm of a new management committee, which is now working hand in hand with them, could help achieve their aim.

The facility, now called The Lawns Community Hall, includes a large hall, medium sized side room, kitchen and storage facilities.

There is good disabled access and the facilities are available for regular or one-off bookings at £20 a session.

David Veale, president of the West Somerset Table Tennis Association, which has its base at The Lawns, said he was delighted to learn of the renewed efforts to keep the facility going.

He said the decision not to implement the planning approval immediately had given the organisations who used the building regularly the opportunity of preserving it for the community.

Mr Veale, whose mother was a member of the former lunch club, said the regular mid-week table tennis sessions were well attended by a mixed age range and Saturday sessions were also held for juniors and students from Foxes Academy, the training and catering college for young people with learning difficulties.

"I wish all users of The Lawns continued success," he said.

Anyone interested in booking the venue should contact Barbara Parker on 01643 704180.

Details will also be available on a new website, currently being set up, at http://www.thelawnscommunityhall.co.uk">www.thelawnscommunityhall.co.uk.