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Hostel closure confirmed

From the Bridgwater Mercury, first published Thursday 23rd Mar 2006.

OCTOBER 2007 has been confirmed as the month for a volunteer-run youth hostel in the Quantock Hills to close.

As reported in the Mercury last month, the Youth Hostel Association earmarked Holford's Sevenacres building for closure as part of a business restructuring to shift the focus towards younger people.

The site, based in the shadow of the Hills, will be closed and sold with the money being put towards an £18 million investment programme.

YHA Property Director Jake Chalmers said: "This is the start of YHA's long-term investment programme to revitalise our network of Youth Hostels.

"Changing tastes and markets have left us with too many properties that are under-used, in the wrong locations, fail to make a profit, require heavy investment, or a combination of all four."

Sevenacres, which is often run by couples registered with the YHA who entwine the work with a holiday, records 3,000 overnight stays a year - a figure which the company hopes will be transferred to its other hostels around Somerset.

Anyone interested in purchasing any of the properties can register their details with Claire Newey by emailing claire.newey@yha.org.uk or calling 01629 592680.

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