Village hall project gets £37,900 grant

Posted on October 25, 2007

The completion of Eaton Bray Village Hall has been moved forward three years after receiving a grant of £37,900 from WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd).

The bumper grant will enable phase three of the refurbishment to take place next year.

The involves creating a disabled toilet along with a new kitchen and meeting room.

Ross Bagni, of the Eaton Bray Village Hall Trustees told the Citizen: "We've got £50,000 to raise and this will help towards that significantly. It will being us forward by about three years. Usually we'd only be able to raise £10-12,000 a year so this is a massive help.

"The hall will be a big boost to the village when it's done. We've spent a lot of money on making sure we've a decent 21st century hall that everyone can use."

Phase three marks the end of the major work that has been carried out over the last three years.

In 2004 the main hall was completely refurbished at a cost of £150,000, the main toilets have just been completely revamped along with the entrance hall (£32,000).

Phase three will cost approximately £50,000 so even though some of the balance has been raied, the Hall Trustees need to continue fundraising for the foreseeable future to complete the job by summer 2008.

The news was announced at a joint fundraising quiz with Eaton Bray Tennis Club. Over 170 people attended and the two organisations shared the £1,400 raised on the night.

The trustees have raised nearly £250,000 over a five year period to bring the village hall up to date. They are well aware that the hall will continue to need minor improvements over the next few years, along with regular maintenance and their efforts will continue with regular events, including a beer festival (first weekend of June), quiz nights, and other social events that bring the villagers together to help in maintaining this vital village facility.

Source: The Citizen, 25 October 2007