Thornton Community centre has had a huge makeover during the past 3 years with over £98,000 spent on repairs and refurbishment. It is an ideal venue for parties, weddings, group and sporting activities, business meetings and so much more.
The centre consists of two halls, the Main hall has a large stage for theatre performances and live bands, and has commanding views over the National Forest and Thornton reservoir. Just off the main hall there is a small meeting room. Patio doors lead onto a large grassed area with a footpath leading to two childrens’ playgrounds and onwards down to the reservoir where there is a 3.2 mile circular walk. The Sports hall, is connected through a small passageway and boasts a new kitchen and new, unisex toilets. The halls can be hired separately or together. There is a free car park.
More information about the centre can be found on this website under the heading Community Centre and Sports hall or email the administrator Kate – tccbookings@yahoo.com
The trustees apologise for any inconvenience caused by the recent building work in the Sports Hall at the Community Centre.
The work has been carried out in three phases to minimise disruption.
PHASE ONE
To remove the Sports hall ceiling tiles, insulation and the brown felt wall and ceiling covering.
Earlier in the year there was a fire inspection at the premises and it was found that the tiles etc were not fire retardant,
The hall was in danger of being closed if the trustees had not taken remedial action. The old tiles, felting and insulation was removed and replaced with new fire retardant tiles and insulation (Tim Baker TLB Construction Ltd) and the hall decorated throughout (Dave Goodburn).
COST – £13,080
PHASE TWO
To provide two unisex toilets in the Sports Hall (additional to the disabled toilet) by utilising the space of the existing small kitchen and using a third of the Sports Hall storeroom space for a new modern, fully equipped kitchen with eye level oven and microwave, induction hob, and large fridge freezer. (Tim Baker TLB Construction Ltd).
COST – £24,500
PHASE THREE
After phase two was completed the trustees realised that there was an unacceptable level of noise (reverberation) in the hall, making it ‘uncomfortable’ for users to hear and concentrate. The decision was taken to engage a specialist company to address the problem.
Sound Reduction Ltd will be installing white, Sonata Aurio absorber panels across the whole of the ceiling. This work will take one day to complete and will take place on Wednesday 6th November in time for the two major forthcoming events – The Christmas Fayre (16th November) and the School pantomime.
COST – £5,577.60
TOTAL COST OF THE THREE PHASES OF THE PROJECT – £43,157.60
It is hoped that this work will lead to more bookings for the Sports Hall which can now be used independently of the Main Hall. The hall is already very popular for childrens parties with the safe use of a bouncy castle indoors.The trustees would welcome new user groups to the hall, especially for sporting activities such as ‘pickle ball’ the new sporting craze sweeping the country.
SECURITY
We now have the capability to lock the new kitchen and storeroom doors to enable regular user groups equipment to be stored safely.
FUTURE PROJECTS
There are a few minor internal works that still need completing (new main hall door, new flooring in the Main hall foyer, toilet and kitchen, bricking up an obsolete rotting door and frame plus major works outdoors – the erection of a decked area off the Main hall patio doors and the extension of the car park.
FUND RAISING
All the works completed so far have seriously depleted the Centre’s funds and no further projects can be carried out until we raise the necessary monies .
More than ever we need new fund raising ideas and helpers.
If you have any ideas or think you can help in any way, then please contact the trustees through this website.