THE storm-damaged DA Hall on Cumbrae is set to finally reopen after almost five months.

The building was closed in September on safety grounds after a tree ripped through its roof, causing serious damage to an internal beam.

With the building closed, alternative arrangements had to be made for the September weekend festivities, which were all moved to the Garrison marquee..

Only days later the building suffered a second unexpected blow when Storm Ali brought a second tree crashing down on the building.

Now after months of efforts involving builders, insurers and the Cumbrae Community Development Company (CCDC), the council have finally given the go ahead to re-open the facility.

The repair work was completed at the end of January but the doors couldn't reopen until official confirmation the building was safe was received from the council.

CEO of CCDC, Michael Bertram, said: "The council has now informed me that they will reopen the hall, which is great news.

"Their maintenance team visited and inspected the building last week and I have received reports that the work has been completed to the council's satisfaction.

"A deep clean was required. This has been done so we can get things back on track.

"The office staff will now begin the exercise of reinstating groups and accepting new bookings.

"It has been a long few months, but thanks go to everyone who has worked hard to get the hall back up and running."

The news will be welcomed by local residents who have struggled to find alternative venues to host events over the last few months.

The annual Christmas pantomime on the island was even cancelled as a result of no other premises able to accommodate the scale of the set.

Local groups have complained about the lack of suitable facilities since the hall's closure, with many having to use either the school or the field studies centre to keep things going.

The Friends of Millport Town Hall say that this is just another example of why people need to back their campaign for another community facility on the island.

A spokesperson said: "What happened at the DA Hall shows we need a proper community hub that people can rely on - and that is what we are campaigning for."