FENTON TOWN HALL COMES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY! A two year struggle to bring back one of Stoke-on-Trent's most iconic buildings back into community use has received a massive boost! Fenton Town Hall for over 40 years functioned as Stoke-on-Trent Magistrates' Courts and was put up for sale by the Ministry of Justice in January 2013. In a prolonged campaign to prevent the sale of the unlisted Victorian building and its four war memorials into the hands of private developers and returned to regenerate the community of Fenton, residents created a series of promotions designed to raise awareness of their situation at a time of unprecedented spending on commemorative First World War projects across the UK and to highlight the opportunity Fenton Town Hall afforded the community: Alan Gerrard - lead organiser: "Poppy planting projects across the town, a 10,000 signature petition submitted to 10 Downing Street, harnessing celebrity support, a month long occupation of the town hall beginning on Remembrance Sunday 2014 invoking the spirit of Article 61 of the Magna Carta, a "Hands Round the Town Hall", were just some of the many projects aimed at drawing global attention to the injustices perpetrated on Stoke-on-Trent's finest WW1 memorial. The change.org petition certainly reflected the international success of this appeal." "It was this imagination, audacity and perserverance eventually brought the Ministry of Justice to the table. They offered the building back to the people of this city at a peppercorn rate. That's as much as we could do. As campaigners, whether based in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, UK or abroad, we can be extremely proud that we did an effective job." Although the building was offered back to Stoke-on-Trent City Council apparent confusion over possible caveats and the building's liabilities meant that an impasse developed before Localism Act rules gave the community a further six months to lobby the Ministry and Stoke-on-Trent City Council to find a solution. However, the fear was it was merely a waiting game with neither party willing to shift and with the community left hung out to dry. It was in the midst of these fears that fellow campaigner Justin Meath Baker, the great grandson of William Meath Baker (the pottery owner and philanthropist who had Fenton Town Hall built in 1888) recently took the action which may well bring colour and vibrancy to a town which has been crying out for investment for decades: To quote Justin: "In the light of the recent developments, which demonstrated the clear unwillingness on the part of either Stoke City Council or the MoJ to give any meaningful support to the community proposals, I made an offer to acquire the building myself, which has been accepted (subject to contract)." "My aims and ambitions for the building are to see it put to full use at the heart of the town and the community, with a mix of social enterprises, commercial tenants and starter offices supporting the restoration of the original 1888 building – especially the ballroom - the preservation of the War Memorials in situ and public access to them." Glenn Parkes Chair of Fenton Community Association had this to say: "Fenton Community Association has been battling with the Ministry of Justice for more than two years in an attempt to return Fenton Town Hall to the people of Fenton. We are delighted in the news that a member of the Baker family, Justin Meath Baker has stepped in to save this cherished building and like his great grandfather who built this Town Hall, wants this building to be used by the people of Fenton. Fenton Community Association looks forward to working with Justin on a project which will bring jobs and growth to the local community." The MoJ have asked Justin, as a condition of the sale, to show that he has the support of the community of Fenton. There can be little doubt that he'll have that! A final word from Justin: "I look forward to working with you all in bringing the heart of Fenton back to life."