Refurbishment cash boost for ailing buildings (From This is Hampshire)

Refurbishment cash boost for ailing buildings

1:00pm Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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COMMUNITY halls in Whitchurch, Overton and Oakley are to receive cash injections towards refurbishment costs.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has allocated up to £112,700 from contributions made by developers towards St Luke’s Hall in Overton – finally settling a long-standing debate over its future.

It was suggested at one point that the hall, in Winchester Street, should be knocked down and replaced with a new building.

But the trustees agreed instead to carry out a £224,000 refurbishment.

The developers’ money, added to the £24,000 the St Luke’s Hall Charity has already raised, leaves a shortfall of about £87,000, which is going to be found from external grants and fundraising.

Chris Penney, secretary of St Luke’s Hall Charity, said: “It’s brilliant if that’s what we have got. It will go towards a major refurbishment.”

The refurbishment will move the main entrance to the side of the building to create a new waiting area, relocate the toilets and create a new function room.

The building, which was built in the 1940s, was used as a social club for Portals’ employees before it was donated to the village.

It is now used for music events and clubs in the village including dancing, bowls and a slimming club.

Up to £6,408 will also be given to St Leonard’s Centre, in Rectory Road, Oakley, to contribute towards the completion of a new kitchen.

The centre is being rebuilt as part of a £706,405 project. Church worshippers raised most of the money, with the remainder coming from grants and the Diocese of Winchester.

The management committee of the centre requested further funding towards the completion of the new kitchen to be ready when the facilities are officially open in May this year.

Developer contributions totalling £5,980 will also be given to Testbourne Community School, in Whitchurch, to help pay for redecorating the sports hall.

It is used for physical activity by the school and local community including groups such as football, climbing, cricket, badminton, martial arts and archery.