The new village hall project has struggled over the last year or so and that has now come to a head. The George V trustees (Parish Council cricket, football and tennis clubs, British Legion and St Andrews school) who manage the playing fields, feel it is time for a change of approach. The Recreation club who have been working on an alternative plan have been given up to two years to progress their plan.
Ian Sheppard for the project said ‘Pre covid we were making progress with potential grant funders and a construction company provided budget costing of just over £1,075,000, for a community hub with a floor area 616m2 including a large hall, which was a priority. This would have allowed significantly more sport and recreation and broader range of activities for the people of the village.’
‘It has taken a long time to get here but a combination of the lease conditions, the King George V Trustees decision which means our planning permission will lapse during the initial period of the alternative plan, the Parish Council’s reluctance to set aside s106/CIL monies for a future building and possible limitations of grant funding as a result of Covid means we are closing the project down.’
‘Whilst we have not managed to fulfil the vision for a community hub catering for all age groups to meet the needs of the village, villagers will still be able enjoy a range of freshly brewed coffees and delicious home-made cakes in the community café, set up originally to raise funds for the project.’
‘We would like to thank our volunteers for their efforts, the people who made financial pledges and the local business who supported the project. We wish the Recreation club well with their endeavours’. Ian Sheppard