THERE is 'no intention whatsoever' of St John Ambulance trying to sell the hall in Launceston, according to a spokesman for the charity.

The assurance followed a statement by mayor Cllr Dave Gordon at a meeting of the town council last week. Cllr Gordon, who is one of three lay trustees, expressed concerns that 'there is a clear and significant risk' the St John Ambulance Hall on Westgate Street would be sold.

But the St John spokesman said the charity wanted to take over ownership of the hall with 'robust legal safeguards' that would involve any future changes having to be approved by the mayor.

The hall was built by George Edward Trood in 1935 and held upon trust to be used as an ambulance station by

St John.

The original conveyance states that it should be run by 12 trustees, all of whom must live in Launceston, nine of whom must represent St John while the remaining three are lay trustees, one of them being the town mayor.

But Cllr Gordon told councillors last week that there was currently only one serving St John trustee. He outlined the current situation regarding the building and stressed that the lay trustees did not wish to see St John Ambulance removed from the building.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.