Cllr Bill Bishop and Gloria Hicks officially
dedicate the hall's new doors
A VILLAGE hall, which
is more than 90 years old, is being given a new lease of
life.
Residents of Herringswell
are determined that their hall, which was originally built during
the First World War in 1917, should be restored as it is village's
only remaining community facility following the closure of its pub
and post office.
A village hall committee has been formed and on Tuesday members
welcomed county councillor Bill Bishop who has donated £1,000 from
his locality budget to help pay for new doors for the hall.
The committee has also received financial support from ward county
councillor Lisa Chambers and Forest Heath Council, which will cover
a third of the cost of the refurbishment project, providing local
fundraisers can raise the rest.
Gloria Hicks, chairman of the village hall committee, which also
numbers Rebecca Watts as treasurer, Liz Marchington, secretary,
Chris Wallis and David Ebbs, said: "A charitable trust was formed
to run the hall in 1946 and in the 1970s it had an extension built
but soon after it was taken over and became the Live and Let Live –
a private members' drinking club."
But the club ran into financial difficulties and the hall was
handed back to the parish council in October last year
"We are committed to getting the hall back on its feet and up and
running as a community venue," said Mrs Hicks. "Forest Heath has
been very helpful and has paid for a new boiler and we are now
approaching local businesses asking them to contribute to the
project, which is likely to cost at least £60,000."
Liz Marchington, chairman of Herringswell Parish council said: "The
village hall committee is committed to the renovation of this
fantastic facility and the parish council is delighted that Cllr
Bishop has been so supportive of our village hall and has been able
to financially support us in this way.
"Although the village hall committee still has a lot of fundraising
to do, it can begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel and
already it is getting indications of support from socially
responsible local businesses that see the value of such a facility
in a rural community"
The full article contains
376 words and appears in newmarket journal newspaper.