A residents’ group is steeling themselves for a court battle after councillors last Tuesday voted to reduce Lawson’s century-old community hall to rubble and make way for the highway widening.

In a six-four vote, the lengthy demolition process for the former Mechanics Institute overcame its final hurdle to cries of “shame, shame, shame” and “disgrace” from the public gallery.

John Sheehy, Solicitor for the Association of Concerned Mid Mountains Residents (ACMMR), said they planned to challenge the decision in both the Land and Environment and Supreme courts.

“It’s not over yet,” Mr Sheehy told the Gazette.

“We’ve done too much work to try and save (the hall) to let it go.”

Amongst a litany of issues, ACMMR will argue the sale of the front portion of the hall to the RTA in 1989 was illegal.

A staunch advocate for demolishing the dilapidated building, Clr Chris Van der Kley said council’s decisions over its fate had been “open and above board”.

“We’ve done everything legally and properly. We as councillors have got nothing to be ashamed of,” he said.

“(Council hasn’t) got another million dollars . . . to fix the hall up and bring it up to standard.”

But ACMMR member Erst Carmichael expressed frustration over council’s willingness to overlook a “generous” RTA offer which could have seen the hall retained.

Under the rejected plan, the hall’s front portico would be relocated to its side leaving a small gap between the building and realigned highway.

Ms Carmichael said the hall could be brought into line with current standards on the back of community volunteers and donations.

“(Council) are just turning a total blind eye to the fact that the community could help economically,” said Ms Carmichael.

“Instead of that we’re going to have to dip into our pockets to try and fund raise to take council to court.

“It’s just ludicrous.”

But Mayor Jim Angel batted away the palatability of the RTA offer, saying it was too costly and any alterations to the structure would diminish its heritage value.

To date, no firm funding offers had been put forward to save the hall according to a council press release issued last week.

The RTA will foot the bill for the hall’s demise and has yet to decide on when it will be pulled down.

A move to defer last Tuesday’s decision by Clr Pippa McInnes was knocked down.

Councillors Angel, Creed, Frappell, Hamilton, Myles and Van der Kley voted to demolish the hall.

Councillors McInnes, O’Grady, Searle and Trindall voted against.

Councillors McLaren and Brown were absent from the meeting.