So what are our plans for the future?
The proposal is to extend the front of the building to allow the internal construction of new ladies and gents toilets as well as a disabled person’s toilet and baby change area. The kitchen will be enlarged and fitted out properly. The existing gents’ toilet will be extended to become a large storage room for tables and chairs and the sides of the stage will be cleared, allowing them to be used as dressing rooms.
There will be more storage areas, access to the toilets will be from the lobby area not the main hall, and the kitchen will be accessed from both the lobby and main hall.
The committee room will be free of tables and chairs, and when in use you won’t have to go through the hall to access the kitchen and toilets, so that could be used at the same time.
Pete Holland of Elm Architectural Services, having kindly donated his services to the Hall, has obtained planning permission for the extension from Wealden District Council, the Structural Engineer’s plans and builders’ estimates, so we have now applied to the Lottery and other grant funders to ask if we will be considered for financial assistance. Applying for funding is very difficult and the process very long, all we can do is try. At the end of the day we may not receive anything so will be unable complete this work but we will do something, meanwhile we are continuing to put on events to help boost our funds, so please see our future events page and come along and support us.
If the finance is in place, we hope to start work in spring 2020, closing the Hall for a few weeks in July and August, so please consider this if you are planning an event of your own and need to hire the hall.
Do you think you would be able to help in any way? Do you have experience of applying for grants? Would you be able to volunteer your time to help with fund raising or later on with the build? Would you be able to donate materials or possible help financially? If yes to any of the above please contact:-
Pete Holland pete.holland1@hotmail.com or
Richard McAfee orionmaintenance@btinternet.com