Following your article about the Scout Hall in William Street, New Marston, Oxford, and the exchange of letters by our councillors and resident Susan Townsend, I feel that you should get the Scout group's side of this discussion.

I want to make it clear that no cash has ever been handed over to the Scout group.

We moved out of the hall for four months and the city council managed and paid directly for all of the refurbishment work.

The refurbishment involved far more than a coat of paint, as suggested in Susan Townsend's letter.

The hall had a new kitchen fitted, the ladies' toilet was moved and renovated, an accessible toilet was installed, the gents' toilet was refurbished, the hall was rewired, and a new boiler, heating system and plumbing installed.

In addition, a fire alarm was fitted, a new roof put on the kitchen and the hall redecorated throughout inside, which involved a fair amount of remedial work as well as the installation of ramps.

A new roof was not fitted, but the existing tiles were checked to ensure that there were no leaks.

I accept that the outside of the hall needs to be redecorated, but there was no money left.

The Scout group is trying to raise funds to do this, aided by members of the local community, who are trying to get the community use of the hall off the ground.

The councillors are correct that the Scout Group has seen an incredible increase in numbers since the refurbishment.

Numbers have trebled since January, 2007, and we now have more than 70 young people enjoying their Scouting every week.

When the cast of the Oxford Gang Show uses the hall for rehearsals through the winter, we probably have almost 300 members of the Scout movement in the hall every week.

Members of the community have been able to contact me to make bookings, and the hall has been used for parties and some regular activities.

We have had a number of inquiries for bookings, but it has to be down to the local community if they are going to make use of the hall.

The Scout leaders already commit an enormous amount of time and energy to providing exciting Scouting for the young people of Marston and the surrounding area.

We cannot be expected to manage community use of the hall as well.

ADRIAN EDWARDS Acting Group Scout Leader and Cub Scout Leader