At a Parish Council meeting held on 17th November, councillors voted to give the Band notice
to vacate the room that has been its home for more than a century. The decision was carried by four votes
in favour, with one against and two abstentions. The notice requires the Band to leave by the end of
March 2026.
A potential alternative location in the annexe of the Memorial Hall had previously been suggested.
However, at the Memorial Hall's Annual General Meeting it was confirmed that the former youth club space
will be relaunched as The Hive, with a renewed focus on youth provision. As a result, Lockerley
Silver Band currently has no confirmed future base.
Without a suitable rehearsal venue, the Band's continued existence is under serious threat. Members fear
that, after generations of music-making and community involvement, Lockerley Silver Band could be forced
to disband, bringing a long local tradition to an end.
Despite the uncertainty, the Band remains committed to performing and supporting live music in the community.
Timeline of Events
September 2025
Representatives of the Band met with Parish Council members.
November 2025
The matter was discussed in public session at a Parish Council meeting. Councillors voted four in
favour, one against, two abstentions to give the Band notice to vacate.
19 January 2026
At a meeting of Lockerley Parish Council (closed session), the Council formally resolved that
Lockerley Silver Band must vacate the Parish Room by 31 March 2026. The Council stated that it
considers the use of public funds to support the Band to be financially prohibitive, unjustifiable
and unsustainable, and that precept funds must be used for the benefit of parishioners as a whole.
The Council confirmed it would not enter into further discussion on the decision.
10 February 2026
The Band was provided with a copy of a historic agreement dated 1 May 1998 relating to the
Band's use of the Parish Room, which references notice provisions. The current committee had no
prior knowledge of this agreement and is unable to confirm who signed it on behalf of the Band
at the time. Until this disclosure, the Band was unaware of any document that may have affected
its understanding of security of tenure. The decision therefore stands, and the Band is required
to leave the Parish Room by the end of March 2026.
