Ref. 28756-42IRISH dance pupils who have been thrown out of their hall after the council deemed it unsafe, are struggling to find a permanent home for their classes.

The 60 dancers attending Ian Boyd's school used to be able to rehearse five nights a week at their base in the former Rodbourne Mannington Community Centre in Morris Street.

Last week, the Adver told how the hall was closed after the lease with the former Irish Association was ended.

Dance teacher Patsy Moloney had wanted to take it over and allow three schools to operate there, but was told it no longer met safety requirements.

Ian Boyd's school had hired the hall from the Irish Association since 1997

But since they were given notice to quit in November they have been unable to find a hall that can be booked for more than three nights a week.

Angry committee member Nicki Scott, whose daughter Amy, 10, is a dancer, said; "They gave us no time to find anywhere else just two weeks. We had to persuade them to let us stay an extra two weeks because we had nowhere to go and we were in the middle of rehearsing for the world championship qualifiers."

The school now has classes at the community centre in Emlyn Square. But time available for practice has been almost halved.

Mrs Scott, 37, of Stenness Close, Sparcells, said she could not understand how the hall could be safe for them to use one week and unsafe the next.

She said parents and committee members had made repairs to the floor when necessary, to keep it safe and comfortable for the children.

"The children were very upset when they were told there wasn't anywhere for them to practise," she said.

"The parents are disgusted at the way we have been treated."

She added that parking had never been a problem.

"We have never had any problems with neighbours around the hall. There is space in the road and we don't block their driveways."

Dance teacher Ian Boyd shared her anger.

He said: "It has caused us hellish problems.

"Nicki spent two solid days on the telephone trying to find somewhere. She was even trying pubs with back rooms, but there was just nowhere.

"I'm very grateful to the Emlyn Square centre.

"Without them we wouldn't even have three nights.

"But it isn't suitable long term because it can't give us enough time and the floor is solid there is no 'give' in it.

"If we don't find somewhere permanent soon it is going to cause longer term problems for some of the children.

"Eventually they will have aches and pains in their legs."

He added that without the facilities to stay and have a cup of tea and a chat while they waited for their children, the little community of parents and families was starting to break up.

Swindon Borough Council has said it is considering future uses for the hall, but there were restrictions on what it could be used for and there was no parking allocation.

tclarke@newswilts.co.uk