A small group of trustees manage the centre on behalf of the Community, and just prior to Covid they were working on a lengthy programme of refurbishments to be carried out at the 50-year-old Centre which was looking tired and dated.
As these plans for refurbishment began to take shape Covid struck, and the centre was closed for 16 months.
(The two halls are owned by the village community and sit on a plot of land extending to the hedgerow behind the centre and to the left of the path, leased from the Parish Council for a peppercorn rent).
The trustees apologise for the untidy state of the driveway borders. They have located architects’ plans at the Parish Council offices, which indicate that the land is not leased from the Parish Council, making them responsible for maintenance. If you are unhappy with the borders’ condition, please inform the Parish Council. Despite repeated requests to tidy the area, the response has been “there is no money available.” This situation reflects poorly on the Centre and the village.
Since reopening in July 2021, the trustees have created an online presence with this website and an associated digital booking system (Hallmaster).
New signage was erected above the hall doors and noticeboards on the driveway facing Main Street.
The felt roof on the Sports Hall was replaced.
Overgrown borders and hedges were cut back.
A large screen and projector were purchased for the Main Hall with a grant from Forterra Brickworks.
A freezer was purchased for the kitchen.
Two benches were purchased from grant money, and placed by the front door together with a planter donated by the Parish Council.
Continual blockages in the toilets for several years led the trustees to have the drains ‘scoped’, and it was found that they had collapsed in part and the whole drainage system had to be replaced
During the autumn of 2022, MDJ Developers and Johnson Wellborn decorators started major works refurbishing the main hall toilets and decorating the main hall, kitchen, toilet, storeroom, meeting room, foyer and sports hall foyer.
New modern, white doors were fitted throughout the centre and painted.
Glenfield Electrical rewired the Centre and installed LED lighting throughout the inside, and new external lighting.
After this work was completed a window cleaner was engaged to clean the fascia’s and windows on a monthly basis and the Main hall curtains were dry cleaned.
All this work contributing to the centre having a fresh, clean, spacious look making it more appealing to hirers.
In August 2023 another part of the flat roof had to be repaired, and a replacement extractor fan had to be fitted in the main kitchen.
The obsolete, external cameras were taken down.
Earlier this year a fire inspection was carried out it was found that the Sports hall ceiling and wall tiles were no longer compliant with fire regulations. To avoid closure of the hall the ceiling and wall tiles were taken down and replaced with new tiles and insulation, and the hall was redecorated throughout.
Currently major works are taking place in the Sports Hall. A larger fully equipped kitchen is being built, and the former small kitchen is being converted into two toilets.
MORE PHOTOGRAPHS TO FOLLOW ……..
In December last year plans were submitted to HBBC for permission to construct a decked area to the rear of the hall and to increase the car parking space by a further 27 spaces.
Planning permission was granted, however the unforeseen costs of replacing the drains and the Sports hall ceiling (£30,388) mean that there are insufficient funds to carry out these works, until fund raising, and grants allow.
The trustees have spent £98,000 over the past 3 years to ensure that the Centre is fit for purpose for the next 50 years.
Both halls make superb venues for all kinds of events, they can be used together or separately, with arguably the best view in the county overlooking the National Forest and the reservoir.
The Sports hall is a particularly safe space for childrens’ parties with room for bouncy castles inside the hall. The photographs show a recent Spiderman themed party.
Could you help your Community with fund raising through organising events, grants or donations to make these final proposals happen?
Would you like to be involved in securing the future of this wonderful resource for your community?
Then please contact us on email thorntonvillage@aol.com
For more information about the Centre (hire costs/photographs/booking system etc), check out the pages on this website dedicated to the Community Centre.
Gill Tapping (Trustee)
Thornton 