Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Trevor Hallett, and trustees of the town's Scout and Guide Hall were able to see first-hand this week progress being made on an ambitious project for a new headquarters in Warren Street during a visit on Monday. As reported in last week's Observer, work has begun on demolishing the dilapidated hall to make way for a new building providing much-needed modern facilities for the town's Scouts, Brownies and Guides, complete with residential apartments and garages. The £870,000 scheme consists of a hall (50 per cent larger than the previous one), a kitchen, bunk room, toilets, disabled toilet facilities, and store rooms on the ground floor, while above will be six flats, five two-bed and one one-bed. "We hope to have the whole demolition process completed in two weeks," said developer, Stuart Farrow, of GKV Developments, who saved the day by taking on the trustees' innovative project and in exchange for the site will give the movement the hall free of charge and fund all repairs and maintenance. Building work is being undertaken by F. J. Chalcroft Construction Ltd, and it is hoped the Scouts, Guides and Brownies will be able to move into their new home in September, just over two years since the hall was closed for safety reasons. Until then, the groups will continue to meet at their temporary homes at the Avenue Social Activity Centre and St. Johns Church Hall. The 4th Tenby Guides actually held an enrolment ceremony for nine girls on the derelict site last week and will also be burying a time capsule in the footings. "We are very much looking forward to handing over the hall to the trustees on schedule next summer," said Mr. Farrow, who says that the hall will be much more user friendly for the whole community to benefit from. Chairman of the hall trustees, Colin Jones, said: "Although it is sad to see the old hall coming down, we are delighted work is beginning and we are looking forward to getting the hall ready for use next September." Added Jan Evans, vice-chairman of the trustees: "This is a very unique scheme and we are very excited work is beginning." An appeal fund set-up by the trustees, meanwhile, will be used to kit out the new hall. The trustees are still busy fund-raising for equipment and will be holding a coffee morning next Saturday, November 25, at Church House, Upper Frog Street.