Work is happening at the Royal British Legion hall at Janet’s Corner, Castletown, but it’s behind the scenes and making slow progress.

Residents have raised queries about the nissen hut, a relic of the Second World War, a year after Tony Brown, former chief minister, who is leading the charge in its renovation, outlined plans.

One resident who contacted the Department of Health and Social Care told the Examiner: ’I thought that being in the middle of their new housing estate they would make an objection to its obvious unsightly neglect.

’They sympathise, but that piece of land is out of their jurisdiction.

’It is the responsibility of the British Legion.

’It is a year next month since the article was in the papers claiming wonderful plans for the future.’

Mr Brown said there had been delays because of complications in its ownership structure.

The plan is for a trust to be established to run events and oversee upkeep of the hall to lease the building off the RBL branch trust.

A club will be formed which people can pay to join.

’The legal structure has not been determined,’ he said.

’Its ownership is the RBL, it will be run under a charitable club.

’We are plodding along as best we can.’

He added: ’Last summer volunteers cleared out a lot of stuff from inside the hall and a strucure from the 1980s was removed.

’Because it’s a registered building you need special permission to do any work to it, you cannot just rip things out.’

The hut was built in 1944 as a gymnasium/cinema for use by naval personnel living in the surrounding nissen huts.

At that time it was known as HMS Urley.

After the war ended, the government bought the entire site off the Admiralty and the huts were replaced with homes, except for the hall.

In 1960, the Castletown branch of the Royal British Legion bought the hall from the government, and responsibility for the building passed to trustees, who are elected branch officials.

In the intervening decades it became an important commuity hub in addition to its important historic value.

’It is the last complete building of its type in the British Isles,’ Mr Brown said.

The building is waterproof and Mr Brown reassured people that progress will be made.

’This is a big project for the town.

’Once we’re in a position to, we will fundraise.

’It will happen - the building is very valuable and it will provide a good asset for the town.

’We always said this is not a quick fix.’