THE future is looking bright for the White Hart Hotel in Launceston, despite not selling at auction recently.

With news of one of Launceston’s most iconic buildings not selling at auction on Thursday, February 13, the community of Launceston were quick to step up and think of ways the hotel could be persevered as a community asset.

Unbeknown to the newly formed ‘The White Hart — A Community Project’ Facebook group, Launceston Community Development Trust (CDT), whose over-arching aim is to save, improve or build physical community assets for Launceston, had identified the building before Christmas as one of interest for a future project.

As a Trust, Launceston CDT is able to raise large sums of funds via grants, social investment and the community via a range of avenues, and have recently had a number of meetings to discuss the viability of a project such as the White Hart Hotel, as they recognise it is much-loved and a potential community enterprise asset for Launceston.

Ellie Mason, from the Launceston CDT, said: “Launceston CDT is a legal structure designed to give momentum to community campaign groups like ‘Save the White Hart’. We have an open membership structure with every member getting a vote at our annual meeting.

“Whilst we have plans to develop and own assets across the town, we always seek to work with existing local businesses or social enterprises who are better skilled at operating them day-to-day.”

Alongside the work which has been undertaken by the Launceston CDT, ‘The White Hart — A Community Project’ was set up on Facebook by local woman Melissa Thomas, who, similarly to the CDT, was keen to see the community interest in securing the hotel as a community asset.

Melissa said: “I put the group together after talking to Jade Farrington (Cornwall Councillor for Launceston South) about whether or not the White Hart could be run as a not-for-profit, community organisation. She said it would require a very large team of different professionals with time and dedication to put to it, alongside the funding. So I made the group just purely to get opinions from the people of Launceston.

“I didn’t intend to start a group myself as I have absolutely no idea what it would entail or what to do, but that’s when someone pointed me towards Ellie and I spoke to her.”

The Launceston CDT will be holding an open community event in the next month to invite Launceston to see what the Trust is all about, what they can do to support the community, current projects and future potential projects like the White Hart.

In the meantime, if anyone would like to know more about the Launceston Community Development Trust, how to get involved and be kept in the loop regarding future events, meetings and projects, like their Facebook page, @LauncestonCommunityDevelopmentTrust, follow their Twitter page, @LauncestonCDT, or email [email protected] to sign up to their future monthly newsletter.