A STEERING group is set to be formed to finally give a crumbling hall a brighter future.

Grimethorpe Hall, which last year was the subject of a study carried out by the University of Sheffield’s architecture students, is believed to have stood empty since the 1960s.

Peter Stevenson, from Grimethorpe Residents’ Group, remains optimistic about the ailing hall’s long-term future and has announced plans to form a steering group on the back of the students’ project.

“Now that the Christmas rush is over and we’ve all finished with the long month of January, I would like to move onto the next stage of trying to save our wonderful Grimethorpe Hall,” he added.

“The first step is to get a few people together who have, or feel they might develop, a passion for some or all of the ideas that the students’ project put forward last year.

“Depending upon how many would like to get involved, we could have a meeting or two and see how we can set up a steering committee to help define an organisation, its purpose and goals.

“At this stage we need five or six people, but once the steering committee is up and running we will need more people to get involved to carry the project forward.”

The Grade II-listed hall - which was built in 1670 for Robert Seaton - has long been the subject of a series of planning bids but nothing has got off the ground.

Peter hopes the formation of the steering group will provide renewed hope of bringing it back into use.

“Historic England have been involved with last year’s project and the students’ work has been excellent,” he said.

“Grimethorpe Hall is such a big part of Barnsley’s history.”