Member of Parliament for Hertsmere, Oliver Dowden, has announced that he will be joining the campaign to raise funds to save Falconer Hall, Bushey. Last week, Mr Dowden met with Bushey residents to discuss the campaign and what he can do to help. Falconer Hall, on Falconer Road, has been used by the Bushey community for over one hundred years. Though used by a number of different community groups, the Hall is currently owned by Bushey Parish. Due to the challenging financial climate, the cost of maintaining three different church's and the need to fund repair works to the Hall, Bushey Parish have been forced to put the Hall up for sale. Users of the Hall and other Bushey residents are determined that the building should be kept for the community use and have established a trust, the Bushey Village Community Hall Trust, http://www.bvcht.org/, to lead a campaign to raise the funds necessary to purchase the freehold of the Hall. As well as the purchase price, any buyer would also need to fund repair works to the Hall. Mr Dowden said: "Falconer Hall is a unique building and I know how important it is to the local community. It has been the hub of community activity in Bushey for generations and I am keen to support the Bushey Village Community Hall fundraising campaign." Bushey Village Community Hall Trust are calling for Falconer Hall to be listed as an Asset of Community Value. If the Hall were to be listed by Hertsmere Borough Council as an Asset of Community Value then this would give the Bushey Village Community Hall Trust more time to raise the funds necessary to purchase the Hall. Mr Dowden said: “I know that Bushey Village Community Hall Trust are currently looking into the possibility of Falconer Hall being listed as an Asset of Community Value. "I will be working closely with local councillors to make the case for the Hall to be kept for community use. It is great to see so many within the community rallying around to support the campaign, it is a testimony to the strength of community spirit in Bushey."