The Future Plans for Thurloxton Village Hall
Refurbishment of Thurloxton Village Hall
Introduction
The Village Hall consists of the old village primary school building, with an annexe added in the 1980s. Some years ago, plans were drawn up to replace the annexe, but it soon became clear that the old school building also needed extensive repair and refurbishment.
In 2016, the Village Hall Committee approached a surveyor (Michael Shepherd of Shattocks Associates) to produce a detailed report on the state of the building and to provide an estimate of the likely costs of the necessary repair works.
With the help of a grant from the National Lottery Awards for All fund, plans were drawn up for the complete refurbishment of both Hall and Annexe, and planning permission was obtained in spring 2017. At a public meeting in June of that year, local residents expressed overwhelming support for the proposed works, and the Hall Committee began the work of applying for grant-aid from local and national donors (see Progress Report below).
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Progress Report - November 2019
Thurloxton Village Hall was officially re-opened on Saturday 5 October with well over 100 residents and guests present.
It was an opportunity to thank all those who had contributed towards the refurbishment of the building – Viridor Credits, Sedgemoor District Council, Thurloxton Parish Council, the Fairfield Trust, Awards for All, and the Cording family. Above all, Ryan Cove’s gift in memory of Jo enabled the complete refurbishment of the Hall to go ahead rather than a patchwork of repairs. In addition, there were countless donations, large and small, from members of the community who value the Hall as a meeting place for a wide range of village activities.
After the closure of the village school in 1968, the building had been a Hall for just over 50 years, and a toast was drunk to ‘the next 50 years’.
The refurbishment is still not quite complete. We have been waiting on the outcome of a grant application. But we know now that the concrete courtyard is going to have a resin surface applied, and the old fence around the courtyard will be renewed. The electricity supply is also being updated to ensure adequate power for the range of equipment now installed, especially in the kitchen.
However, although some work remains to be done, the Hall is now usable for almost all purposes, and we are glad that bookings are coming in steadily.
The first community event after the re-opening was the annual Harvest Lunch, and the charity Coffee Mornings (usually on the last Saturday of the month) have moved back into the Hall after their ‘summer tour’.
The autumn programme is also looking busy. On Friday 22 November at 7.30pm we look forward to a Quiz Night organized by Hendrick and Gill Coombs. Do look out for the publicity and make sure to book your place.
On Saturday 7 December there will be the Christmas Craft Fair and on Saturday 14 December we shall be holding the Village Christmas Party, which sadly had to be cancelled last year. There is no charge for the Christmas Party so, again, please look out for the publicity nearer the event and book your place in good time.
Progress Report - August 2019
As the summer draws to a close, the refurbishment of the Village Hall similarly nears completion. This project has been a substantial undertaking for the Thurloxton Village Hall Committee ably led by Rev. Alastair Wallace.
Approximately three years ago, when a new committee was formed it was obvious that the Hall would have to close due to it being uninhabitable. The roof leaked badly, the joists were rotten, the heating did not work, the loos were unusable, it was damp throughout and even the mice had decided to relocate. The demise of this amenity would have been a major blow to all the local villagers and especially those who fondly remember it as the Old School.
The new committee inherited a healthy bank balance but there was totally insufficient funds to contemplate a refurbishment. Initial building estimates were in the region of £160-180,000. The Committee commenced by drawing up a list of potential grantors and vowed to approach each organisation in turn. Each grant application was laborious and required many hours of work. No two grantors were the same and each required many hours of research to ascertain what type of information they required and they all had vastly differing outlooks. Some had questionnaires in excess of 20 pages with questions requiring detailed answers. Our application to Hinkley Point was, for example, in excess of 50 pages.
We were extremely grateful to Viridor Credits who were the first grantor to offer us a grant (£45,000) at a time when our energy was ‘flagging’ and this made us realise our dream could become a reality. Further grants were received from Sedgemoor D.C. (£10,000), Lady Gass (£10,000), Awards for All (two separate grants for £6,500 and £8,500), the Church (£5,000) and Thurloxton Parish Council. A further request for £6,500 is currently being considered by Bernard Sunley.
We owe all the Grantors above a huge thank you. However, our thanks must also go to many villagers who gave very generous individual donations both large and small. Others have given freely of their time and support in numerous ways. The fact that the Hall is now in the last stages of refurbishment would not have been possible without all this help. The Committee has been humbled by the attitude of all the local villagers from all the local villages.
It is planned to officially re-open the Hall on Saturday October 5th at 12.30pm. Everyone is welcome. The event is due to be completed by 2.30pm.
It is highly probable that parts of the hall will not be complete. Most notable in this regard are the large windows that face onto the road. Suitable glass, which needs to conform to British Standards, has proved impossible to procure and even Pilkington Glass cannot help. It has therefore been necessary to acquire the services of a specialist firm to completely rebuild new frames which are able to hold the required glass units but which maintain the original appearance. This will probably take several weeks. Similarly, we await a decision on a further grant, possibly in November, before we can contemplate resurfacing the courtyard.
The Committee has been forced to make numerous design changes from our original plans, mainly due to technical difficulties. Not everyone will agree on every aspect of the new facilities, but the kitchen and loos are now both modern, spacious and functional and the entire building will be warm and dry.
Finally, the Committee would like to thank the builder, Graeme Murray of GLM Carpentry, for his excellent technical ability coupled with his good humour and forbearance. Also to Michael Shepard, surveyor, from …………….. Without the help of both these artisans the project would have been even more demanding.
We hope you will be able to attend the re-opening. R.S.V.P. is essential for catering purposes. Please contact Jonathan Glazebrook on 01823 412570 or email him on sales@glazebrook.com
As the summer draws to a close, the refurbishment of the Village Hall similarly nears completion.
About four years ago, when a new committee was formed, it was increasingly likely that the Hall would have to close due to it being uninhabitable. The roof leaked badly, the joists were rotten, the heating did not work, the loos were unusable, it was damp throughout, and even the mice had decided to relocate. The loss of the Hall would have been a major blow to local villagers and especially those who fondly remember it as the Old School.
The new committee inherited a healthy bank balance but there were totally insufficient funds to contemplate a refurbishment. Initial building estimates were in the region of £160-180,000. The Committee commenced by drawing up a list of potential grantors and resolved to approach each organisation in turn. Each grant application was laborious and required many hours of work. No two grantors were the same and each required many hours of research to ascertain what type of information they required. They all had vastly differing outlooks. Some had questionnaires in excess of 20 pages with questions requiring detailed answers. Our application to Hinkley Point was, for example, in excess of 50 pages.
We were extremely grateful to Viridor Credits who were the first grantor to offer us a grant (£45,000) at a time when our energy was ‘flagging’ and this made us realise our dream could become a reality. We then received the game-changing donation from Ryan Cove in memory of Jo. Further grants were received from Sedgemoor D.C. (£10,000), The Fairfield Trust (£10,000), Awards for All (two separate grants for £6,500 and £8,500), Mr Tim Cording (£5,000) and Thurloxton Parish Council. A further request for £6,500 is currently being considered by the Bernard Sunley Foundation.
We owe all the Grantors a huge thank you. However, our thanks must also go to many villagers who have given very generous individual donations both large and small. Others have given freely of their time and support in numerous ways. The fact that the Hall is now in the last stages of refurbishment would not have been possible without all this help. The Committee has been hugely encouraged by the interest and enthusiasm of local residents who have closely followed the progress of the refurbishment.
It is planned to officially re-open the Hall on Saturday October 5th between 12.30pm and 2.30pm. Everyone is welcome.
It is highly probable that parts of the hall will not be complete at that stage. We await a decision on a further grant, possibly in November, before we can contemplate resurfacing the courtyard and also renewing the fence around it.
We hope very much you will be able to attend the re-opening. For catering purposes, we would be very grateful if you can let us know in advance that you plan to come. Please contact Jonathan Glazebrook on 01823 412570 or email him on sales@glazebrook.com Thank you.
Progress Report - July 2019
The refurbishment of the Village Hall continues although technical problems have resulted in some unforeseen delays.
Never-the-less, progress is being made and there are no unsurmountable problems on the horizon. We are still hoping the hall will be finished by the end of August but with the holiday season upon us, there may be a delay. As with any build, we have been forced to make some adjustments to the original plans. At the time of going to press (mid-July), the insulation, felting, battening and tiling of the roof for the entire building is nearly complete. The internal plastering of the main hall is also almost finished, and the insulation of the kitchen and loos in conjunction with the electric wiring has commenced.
The kitchen has been professionally designed and will contain a commercial dishwasher, warming cupboard, hot water dispenser, microwave and a range oven with induction hob. The ‘working area’ will be composed of a quartz top to include a large serving counter. This modern facility is designed to be robust and will be a major improvement on the old kitchen. Hopefully, it will encourage organisers of clubs/ meetings/receptions etc. to use the hall more regularly. The contrast to the old hall could not be greater! It will be warm and dry! Similarly the loos are being enlarged and will include designated ladies, gents and a combined disabled/ladies with baby changing facilities.
Unfortunately, because the floor in the main hall needs to be raised by 50mm to accommodate extra floor insulation, the new front door will also need to be raised by a similar amount. It will therefore be necessary to have a step (or possibly two) on the external pathway. For technical reasons it is not possible to have a ramp. Disabled and buggy access will therefore continue to be via the old back door. For this reason, the committee is urgently planning to resurface the back courtyard and side entrance pathway and is applying for a grant to complete this part of the project.
In other news, a garden party was held in late June at The Manor Farm, the home of Ryan Cove. The weather was kind and there was a fantastic turnout. A grand total of £1,400 was raised. This event required a vast input from numerous people, both from a planning and practical perspective. Thanks to everyone who helped and attended but especially to Ryan.
100 Club winners for April/May/June were:
April May June
£30 Jean Brown Junior Tucker Anne Caddy
£15 Claire Greenslade Annette Dale Pauline Warren
£5 Trish Davis-Gilbert Edwin Quick Hendrick Coombes
Progress Report - June 2019
The refurbishment of the Village Hall has commenced, and the old annexe and associated loos have been demolished. At the time of writing, the new wall that will help form the extension together with some of the internal walls are taking shape and the new floor has been levelled. For technical reasons the main hall floor will need to be raised by two inches (50mm). This will also mean adjusting some of the heights of the doors but this cannot be avoided. The next major part of the project will be the erection of the scaffolding complete with a ‘tin roof’. The scaffolding will be in place for about a month to allow the roof, guttering etc. to be refurbished.
The sponsored walk along the Bridgwater Canal raised a staggering £2200. A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the walk or who donated monies to the cause. Special thanks go to Graham and Pam Warburton who made an extra special donation. This money will be spent on helping provide equipment for the new kitchen.
The 100 Club draw to include the first few months of the year will be drawn on July 2nd. Apologies for the delay.
The next event organised by the Hall Committee will be a garden party on June 30th. This will include traditional cream teas and garden games for those active souls who want to try croquet, boules etc. The party will be held at Manor Farm in Thurloxton, the home of Ryan Cove. Manor Farm can be found ‘up the hill’ from the church, 100 yards on the right-hand side. Last year this event was exceptionally well attended so early booking would be appreciated although you can ‘turn up’ on the day. How about making this a family day out so please invite as many people as possible. Everyone will be welcome and further details will be announced in June.
Progress Report - April 2019
At long last the refurbishment of the hall has commenced. It has taken the committee several years of sustained effort in order to arrange both the necessary finance and planning arrangements. However, the project could not have been possible without the dedication and help of the local population.
Currently the builders have cleared the site, dug the footings and laid the foundation stones for the new storage extension and loos. In addition, a cement floor has been laid in both these areas. These works were unfortunately delayed by the discovery of an old well under the floor! The old, internal annexe walls will soon be demolished to be replaced by more sustainable structures. The whole annexe will have a pitched roof which will amalgamate into the main structure.
With any luck, the entire building work will be completed by the end of July, but this could be subject to unforeseen delays. Hopefully everyone will be pleased with the result but at the very least the hall will be warm, dry and contain modern conveniences including a new kitchen and loos, Wi-Fi, projector and a store room. A new wider front door will lead directly from the road into a vestibule and hence to a slightly enlarged hall.
Meanwhile, all events at the hall have obviously been cancelled until further notice. However, fund raising will continue to ensure we have sufficient monies to equip the kitchen etc. The next event will be a summer garden party/Cream Tea, which will be held in Ryan Cove’s garden, Manor Farm, Thurloxton provisionally on Sunday 30th June. Further details to follow. Last year the garden party was so successful we have been approached by many people to repeat the event.
The monthly charity coffee mornings which were always held in the Hall are now being held in individual’s houses. The next event will be held at Sue and Roger Scott’s, Lyngs Acre, Thurloxton on May 25th at 10.30am in aid of the South West Children’s Hospice. All welcome.
Progress Report - March 2019
Work has started on the Village Hall this week. The overall amount of money required was in excess of £170,000 and this has been achieved by applying to various grant funding organisations aided by some very generous gifts from local villagers.
The committee would like to thank Viridor Credits, Sedgemoor District Council, Fairfield Charitable Trust and our local Parish Council for awarding us those grants and we are especially thankful to the various individuals who so generously donated monies which
The construction is being led by GLM Carpentry Services in conjunction with Shattock Associates, Surveyors. The hall will be damp proofed and insulated with new electrics, heating, plumbing, toilets, kitchen, store room and improved disabled facilities. The main hall will be enlarged slightly with an extension added to the annexe. Work is due to be completed by the end of July provided there are no ‘unpleasant surprises’.
We look forward to the hall being warm, dry and welcoming and sincerely hope that previous User Groups, who were forced to abandon using the hall due to its atrocious condition, will return. Please bear with us as there will be more trucks, noise and possible congestion in the village during this period. If you experience any major disruption, please contact one of the
Thanks in advance for your patience.
Two recent village surveys, undertaken in 2017 and 2018, showed that >40% of respondents stated they would be willing to organise or help organise a club. Anyone interested in fulfilling these ideas should contact a member of the committee or refer to our website. All ideas welcome.
Progress Report - January 2019
Hi everyone
The Village Hall Committee would like to update you on the progress we are making on our plans to redevelop Thurloxton Village Hall.
A reminder of how we got to where we are now
The Victorian school building in Thurloxton became the Village Hall in December 1968, and although essential maintenance has been carried out on a regular basis since then, it became obvious in 2016 that the Hall, annexe and toilets were in need of complete refurbishment.
The Management Committee took professional advice to explore a series of possible options, including a new-build on the present or an alternative site, or refurbishment and upgrading of the existing building. It became obvious for financial and practical reasons that the refurbishment of the existing building was the only sustainable option, and that decision was endorsed by the community survey and public meeting held during the summer of 2017.
In consultation with Michael Shepherd (our surveyor from Shattocks Associates), a programme of necessary repairs and upgrading was drawn up, and planning permission was granted. Five tenders were invited for the work, and it became clear that we would need to seek funding in the region of £171k.
With the help of the Community Council for Somerset, we set about approaching potential grant-aiding bodies. In autumn last year we submitted applications to Hinkley Point, to Garfield Weston, and to Viridor Credits. We know that competition for funding is intense and
Where we are now
Because our resources are well short of the £171k we were seeking, we are phasing the redevelopment project in stages as funding permits. We are awaiting confirmation from Viridor that they will grant their £45k (plus our £5K) for the revised specification of works drawn up by the surveyor, and as soon as we hear positively from them, we can give the go-ahead for initial work to begin. All being well, this will be in the second half of February, after the Panto has finished.
Our priority in the revised programme of works is to make the Hall and annexe ‘watertight and warm’. This will include:-
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Repairing damaged tiles, and battening, felting and insulating the roof
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Insulating the floor and walls
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Installing a new energy efficient heating system with radiators
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Installing a new main / fire door at the front of the village hall to make it more accessible
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Extending the hall into the existing kitchen as planned, creating a slightly larger hall and a vestibule
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Re-siting the existing kitchen to the annexe
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Stripping out and replacing electrical fittings and installing new lighting
The original plan to build a pitched roof over the annexe and toilets is unlikely to be affordable in the foreseeable future, and so complete replacement of the flat roof is planned instead. The proposed new store room is also beyond our budget at the moment but alternative plans are under consideration.
We are continuing to seek grant-funding from other sources. The Parish Council has kindly made a grant of £2k towards the work, and that in turn opens up the possibility of a grant of up to £10k from Sedgemoor District Council. We are also applying to the Fairfield Foundation (Lady Gass’s charity) and again to Awards for All. In
Depending on the outcome of these applications, we would hope to have funds available to equip the new kitchen and to carry out refurbishment of the toilets.
Thanks to all those of you who have enquired about the progress of the project, and who have been so generous and encouraging in expressing your support for what the Management Committee are trying to achieve.
Happy New Year!
Progress Report - August 2018
Grant Applications
During the last two months, the Committee has submitted three separate grant applications. Our application to EDF (Hinkley Point) was submitted in late June. The closing date was originally June 30th but during June, EDF postponed that application tranche and announced a new final closure, for all grants, of August 31st. Because of the delay, we are not expecting any further contact until September or October. It is entirely feasible we will be required to meet with their Awards Committee at some future time to discuss our Business Plan in more depth. The downside for our application is that EDF
Our second application was to Garfield Weston. This is a national scheme which supports village halls. Their final closing date was also June 30th and our application along with our video that many of you participated in, has been submitted and is pending. Once again it is possible Garfield will send a representative(s) to visit the hall to ascertain whether we have a valid case. Garfield has just recently announced that the number of applications they received has far exceeded their expectations and awards may be less than expected. We won’t hear whether we’ve been successful until October. This just further demonstrates that obtaining a grant is not going to be easy.
Finally, we have also applied to Viridor. Their closing date for this current round of funds was July 31st and we met that target. We do not expect to hear their decision until October and meanwhile, we may, once again, be visited by Viridor for further talks. Overall, we are therefore now in a state of limbo with all our potential Grantors.
Meanwhile, we are continuing to try and increase our own fundraising activities because although we are trying to obtain grants, the Grantors expect us, not unreasonably, to ‘help ourselves’ by contributing a reasonable percentage of any final award from our own monies.
Hallmark
During July the hall was subject to an inspection by Hallmark. This is an organisation that judges whether village halls are maintaining satisfactory levels of management. Several years ago, we were awarded Hallmark Stage 1 and this current visit was to ensure our standards had not fallen. In addition, this year we also applied for Hallmark Stage 2 and although we have not officially been informed if we have been successful, we are moderately confident the inspection was satisfactory. Unfortunately, these days it is necessary to run village halls like small businesses and showing good management procedures is a requirement of obtaining a grant. After all, would you give thousands of pounds to a poorly run organisation?
The Pimms and Canapes afternoon raised a very satisfactory £550. Thanks to everyone who helped.
Our next proposed event at the hall is an 80’s disco on Saturday, September 29th. There will be a DJ specially flown in from Taunton, nostalgic food, a prize for the best dressed and you can even try being a guest DJ. The cost is £6.00 for adults and £3.00 for children. The disco will start at 7.30pm and continue until 11.00pm and attendees must supply their own drinks.
To book contact Simon 07484 641670 or email simon.cornelius@sky.com
Progress Report - July 2018
July witnessed some forward movement in our attempt to obtain grants.
Firstly, our application to EDF has been accepted but we are now required to wait until they have considered our submission in detail and made comparisons to all the other applicants. The downside is that EDF
Secondly, our application to Garfield Weston has also been submitted and accepted. Once again, we are required to wait until all the other applications have also been considered. Garfield may subsequently send a representative to Thurloxton to discuss our case in more depth. No final decision is expected until October. Once again, they have announced their scheme has been grossly oversubscribed. Obtaining a grant is not easy!
Finally, we have sent our stage 1 application to Viridor and we have heard we have been successful and have therefore been invited to submit an application for stage 2 of their process. At least we are making progress even though it is a drawn-out affair with no guarantee of success.
On Sunday, July 15th, Mark and Jenny Thorp hosted an afternoon of cream teas in their beautiful garden with about 140 attendees.
The weather was kind and there was no doubt that the afternoon was a huge success. The Hall Committee would like to thank Mark and Jenny for hosting the event and everyone else who ‘pitched in’. The overall ‘takings’ were the highest ever recorded for an event organised by Thurloxton Hall (in excess of £1,300). This will help support our redevelopment fund.
Four draws were made last month for the 100 Club. First prize was £15, second prize £10, and third prize £5. The winners were:
April May
- Ann Bishop Keith Greenslade
- Ron Warren Brian Cossey
- Maryse Borlase Anthea Walker
June July
- Graham Trott Jamie Baker
- Trish Davies-Gilbert Marie Smith
- Pauline Warren Mick Smith
Anyone wanting to join the 100 club should contact:
Alastair Wallace 01823 413712 or e-mail: ajwallace1023@btinternet.com
Our next event in the support of the Thurloxton Village Hall Redevelopment Project is an afternoon of Pimms and Canapes hosted by Sue and Roger Scott at Lyngs Acre, Thurloxton on Sunday, Aug 12th at 2.30pm. Booking is essential, please contact:
Jonathan Glazebrook 0207 7317135 sales@glazebrook.com
Roger Scott 01823 413962 suerogscott@talktalk.net
Progress Report - June 2018
THURLOXTON VILLAGE HALL JUNE 2018
The saga of applying for grants to refurbish the Village Hall continues with mixed fortunes. We had just completed our application to EDF (Hinkley Point Development) for their deadline of June 30th when EDF announced they were postponing that round of grants until August 31st. That will be the final tranche of monies awarded and after that date, the fund will be closed. At least we were in time for that application deadline but unfortunately, there will be a further two-month delay.
Meanwhile, we have prepared our bid for a second Grantor, Garfield Weston. This company is a major benefactor of village halls but once again there is plenty of competition for monies. We are applying for their 60th Anniversary Fund which is only available this year. We intend to have our application submitted by June 30th but we have been warned that we will not be informed of the result until October. This application also required a video which was organised and ‘shot’ by Wendy McLean and assisted by Rossanne Lee-Bertram. This video was filmed on the weekend of June 16-17 and numerous local villagers were kind enough to donate their time to become ‘film stars’ for the day. Thanks to everyone who participated.
The next ‘hurdles’ for the hall are a visit from Hallmark in mid-July and to commence our preparations for an application for a grant from Viridor. The latter needs to be ready by the end of October. The final builders quote to refurbish the hall was in excess of £175,000 and because the local population is relatively small, no single organisation will provide the full amount, hence the need for multiple applications.
Hallmark is an award made to halls that can demonstrate ‘good management’. It is a requirement of all Grantors because obviously, they will only provide funds to responsible bodies. We are applying for both Hallmark 1 and 2 certification.
Mark and Jenny Thorp have very kindly made their garden at Knapper’s Barton available for an afternoon of cream teas, cakes and refreshments on July 15th between 2.30 and 6.00pm. Tickets are selling well. There will be a raffle and a sale of any ‘leftover’ cakes. All monies raised will go towards the refurbishment of the hall. If it is wet the event will be held under canvas and indoors. We need to know the approximate number of people coming, so please book early. This event is not limited to ‘locals’ so please feel free to invite family and friends. To book, please phone Jonathan on 01823 412570 (parkyg@btinternet.com) or Roger on 01823 413965 (suerogscott@talktalk.net). Tickets are priced at £6.50 for adults and £2.00 for children.
Progress Report - April 2018
Redevelopment Update April/2018
Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who took the time and effort to complete the questionnaire that was recently circulated regarding both the traffic problems in the area and the future use of our Hall. This was requested by EDF as part of our grant application.
We distributed a total of 179 questionnaires and 101 were returned. This represented a return rate of 56% which surpassed last year’s CCS return rate of 53%. This was a truly excellent response. Thank you again.
These results have now been analysed and will be presented to EDF, in the near future, as part of our business plan.
The written responses were comprehensive with a great deal of emotion being expressed on such topics as:
- The amount of extra travel time required when going to Bridgwater (82% reported moderate or severe time delays)
- The changes people have needed to make, in order to adjust for this problem (73% reported needing to make moderate or severe changes to their lifestyle).
- The increase of traffic using ‘rat runs’ in local lanes (73% noted moderate to extensive extra traffic with associated dangers).
- There was a truly huge amount of enthusiasm for clubs/group events to be held locally (87% were strongly in favour).
- In addition, numerous people were motivated enough to write extensive suggestions in the ‘other’ section or full letters of support.
These results demonstrate a strong sense of community cohesion.
Most encouraging was the huge support for the Village Hall to continue and to thrive as a central hub for all the local villages, provided the hall can be renovated. In the long term, the Hall Committee would welcome volunteers to help organise and run new events.
We’re also working on an application with Garfield Weston.
Progress Report - February 2018
The Thurloxton Village Hall Committee continues to make progress on the renovation of the hall. Having already been granted planning permission for the proposed refurbishment changes, Specifications of Work and drawings for the proposed works were sent to several local builders. We are awaiting the final quotes to be returned, following which a potential contractor will be chosen.
However, more importantly, it is necessary to obtain a grant(s) to enable the project to commence. A rough price guide to complete the entire project is in the region of £150 – £180,000. Obtaining this sort of money from a single Grantor will be extremely difficult, if not impossible. The Committee has therefore identified a number of potential Grantors and are in the process of applying for these monies which is an extremely involved process.
The first Grantor approached was the Hinkley Point C Community Fund. This fund was launched to try and mitigate the negative effects of the Hinkley development. Anyone driving into Bridgwater or using our local lanes will be aware of the adverse effects that the lorries and other traffic is causing. In addition, Planning Permission has recently been granted to allow a 50% increase in the number of lorries travelling to Hinkley.
This grant application process is a two-stage affair with a requirement to pass an initial assessment before being permitted to progress to the final stage. We are pleased to announce we have been successful in the initial application and are therefore preparing for the final part. This will require a lot of work including a full Business Plan.
As part of this process, Hinkley also requires ‘proof’ that the Hinkley development is having an adverse effect on a proportion of our local population. It will, therefore, be necessary to circulate a second questionnaire, following the Village Survey performed by the CCS last year. This questionnaire is currently being designed. We apologise for this inconvenience but it is entirely beyond our control.
The Committee would like to emphasise that it is very important that people complete this questionnaire because without proof that Hinkley is affecting, and will continue to affect, a large proportion of our society we are unlikely to be awarded a grant. The questionnaire is likely to be circulated in early March 2018
Progress Report - December 2017
There is no respite however and the Hall Committee is now commencing work on the next stage of the project. This step will be to research potential grantors who may be prepared to fund the renovation of the building and this is definitely the most difficult part of the project so far and will be labour intensive. Obviously, large amounts of money are becoming harder to acquire!
The committee has researched numerous potential bodies who provide grants but the majority are not suitable for our purpose. However, there are some organisations which may be prepared to help. The next step in the project will be to contact at least three such bodies to discuss our plans informally in more detail. Because of the comparatively large sum of money required it may be necessary to accept smaller donations from more than one grantor. Each of these organisations require a large amount of background information so this will be a time-consuming exercise.
In addition, amongst other things, these potential donors will want to ensure the management is pro-active and properly constituted, the hall is financially sustainable and has support from the community. We also need to demonstrate there are long-term plans to increase the number of people using the facility, the building is value for money and the end result will be environmentally friendly. Watch this space!
The committee is also commencing work on the development of a hall website which will be an essential component of our business plan. Most of our local competitors have a website. It will be a vital tool in keeping everyone up to date on activities, events, the re-build etc. When the hall is finally refurbished, the website will provide information to prospective users about our facilities, hire rates, availability and will provide a platform to make online bookings.
This is an exciting project and will really make a difference to the local community. In the mean-time, it will require an increasing amount of work long term. Therefore, if anyone has specialist skills, could help with administration or web site maintenance (training given), catering management, would like to develop new social events or could provide any other type of assistance please contact Roger Scott (01823 413962) or Rossanne Lee-Bertram (01823 413388) in order to discuss further.
Progress Report - November 2017
The committee has researched numerous potential grantors but the majority are not suitable for our purpose. However, there are some organisations which may be prepared to help. The next step in the project will be to contact at least three such bodies to discuss our plans informally in more detail. Because of the comparatively large sum of money required it may be necessary to accept smaller donations from more than one grantor. Each organisation requires a large amount of information so this will be a time-consuming exercise.
In addition, amongst other things, these potential donors will want to ensure the management is pro-active, the hall is financially sustainable and has support from the community. We also need to demonstrate that we have long-term plans to increase the number of people using the facilities, the building is value for money and is environmentally friendly. Watch this space!
The committee is also commencing work on the development of a hall website which will be an essential component of our business plan. Most of our local competitors have a website. It will be a vital tool in keeping everyone up to date on activities, events, the re-build etc. When the hall is finally refurbished, the website will provide information to prospective users about our facilities, hire rates, availability and will provide a platform to make online bookings.
This is an exciting project and will really make a difference to the local community. In the meantime, it will require an increasing amount of work long term. Therefore, if anyone has specialist skills, could help with administration or web site maintenance (training given), catering management, would like to develop new social events or could provide any other type of assistance please contact Roger Scott (01823 413962) or Rossanne Lee-Bertram (01823 413388) in order to discuss further.
Progress Report - October 2017
Following the positive public meeting in June, the committee discussed and took note of the many helpful suggestions which were submitted. Unfortunately, the Highways subsequently objected to plans to enlarge the hall by building a vestibule on the ‘pavement’ immediately outside the hall. Shattocks, our chartered surveyors, therefore amended the plans accordingly.
The new plans were then submitted to the Crown agents, who have a historical interest in the building. They promptly replied stating they had no objection to either the plans or the overall project.
Shattocks have now completed all the necessary plans and application forms for planning permission, and these have been submitted to Sedgemoor District Council. If ‘all goes well,’ planning permission could be granted in December or early in the New Year.
As Shattocks are reasonably confident these plans should be accepted, albeit possibly with a few minor amendments, they have commenced work on drawing up detailed construction plans and specification of works. This will enable the committee to select potential builders and obtain quotes by Feb/March 2018.
The next step will then be to apply for grants. It’s estimated we may need up to £150K (including VAT). These monies are becoming more difficult to obtain so it may be necessary to apply for multiple smaller grants. However, the committee will continue to strive towards the overall goal. If the full amount is not attainable, we may well have to amend our plans accordingly.
Progress Report - February 2017
Despite this, it acts as a hub of village life and the regular events held there are well supported by the local villagers from Thurloxton, Coombe, Adsborough, Farringdon, Clavelshay, Shearston and beyond. In addition, the hall is used by numerous organisations for various activities.
The current committee has been working hard to raise the required capital in order to renovate and possibly enlarge the Hall. However, this will not be easy and a recently commissioned building survey estimated that £120-150,000 will be required to bring the Hall up to modern standards.
We are grateful to the Small Lottery Fund for a grant of £5560 some of which will be used to fund an independent survey of local opinion about the future of the Hall. This is a necessary first step in determining whether villagers want a Hall. If the results of the survey are favourable it will also enable us to apply for larger grants from corporate donors and charities. We are not suggesting the money required to refurbish the Hall will be sourced from local residents.
Clearly, no grant funding body will support a project which is not required by the population in the catchment area.
This fact-finding exercise needed to be conducted by an independent organisation and we have engaged the Community Council for Somerset (CCS) who have a great deal of experience in this field. The survey consists of a household questionnaire which should have been delivered to every household in Thurloxton, Adsborough, Coombe, Shearston, Clavelshay and Farringdon. Individual returns will be completely anonymous. By the time this article is published everyone in these communities should have received a questionnaire.
We would like everyone to complete their form and to encourage friends and neighbours to do likewise. A high percentage of returned forms will be a considerable help in our application for grant-aid. If anyone thinks they live in the above parishes but have not received a form they can be obtained by contacting Rev. Alastair Wallace (01823 412712), Rossanne Lee-Bertram (01823 413388) or Roger Scott (01823 413962). Completing and returning the questionnaire will give you the option to enter our prize draw for a £50 voucher for Clavelshay Barn restaurant.
If the results of the questionnaire support the Hall being refurbished, the next step will be to hold a public meeting in the early summer. The project will be explained in more detail, proposed plans explained and local views and suggestions will be collated.
This is an interesting time for Thurloxton and the surrounding area and your support will be greatly appreciated. It is your opportunity to ‘have your say’ and your participation in this survey and the subsequent plans will increase the chances of the project being a success, resulting in a Hall which we can be proud of and to pass down to generations to come.
In addition, a feasibility study is underway funded by the Awards for All division of the Big Lottery Fund, to determine if Thurloxton and its surrounding communities believe there is a need for a village hall and if they want to retain one.
If the majority of residents agree to retain the hall, the Village Hall Committee will seek outside funding to raise the money for the necessary improvements. It is crucial to keep residents informed before during and after this process. As part of this process, the Committee wants to develop an identity/image for the hall so that it can increase and distinguish its profile locally, better engage with the community and potentially attract additional paying users of the hall.