Commissioning architects to do a feasibility study
Now that we have been successful in obtaining a grant to finance the feasibility study, we have pressed ahead and sent out a brief to several firms of architects and are in discussion with some of these. Hopefully we will be able to commission a firm to undertake this work within the next few weeks. Although the work is only a feasibility study at this stage, it is assumed that the firm concerned would take on the full sale assignment if and when we get the funds for this.

The brief has taken on board the ideas and discussions held earlier in the year, and also the lessons learned from other villages – we are putting a lot of emphasis on energy efficiency, to be able to keep a village hall warm at low cost is vital.

Jon Trotman and Alison Critchlow are handling the liaison with architects.

Community fund raising
The Parish Council has now established a completely separate account into which money raised will be put. So any cheques etc should be made payable to Threlkeld Village Hall Revitalisation Fund. A separate advert gives some details of particular fundraising activities. We need a lot of help with fund raising, so if anyone has any good ideas or just wants to get involved in any way, get in touch with Dot Benson or Sandra Hewitson.

Constitution of the Public Room
A new draft “deed” has now been drawn up. This will provide a firmer basis for the operation and management of the village hall, vitally important if we are to be handling larger sums of money than has been the case in the past when the revitalisation scheme takes off.

The idea is to have this new deed officially adopted to take effect from 1 October 2007. It will establish a new Trust Management Committee to be responsible for the village hall overall. The Committee will consist of three people elected at a public meeting (scheduled for 17 October 2007); three people appointed by the Parish Council; and three people coopted by the other members.

The village hall is a charitable trust and this Trust Management Committee will be the trustees of the charity. The ongoing work of running events and activities, routine maintenance and management, fundraising etc will continue much as it does already, via Sub Committees of the Trust Management Committee. The Public Room Committee will be one of these, concentrating mainly on organising the village sports, the bonfire, trips, whist drives etc. We need volunteers to assist with this sort of activity – please telephone Diane Robson, Carolyn Cripps or Trevor Roberts if you would like to get involved.

Threlkeld Pilot Study financed by the Lake District National Park
The National Park Authority has authorised us to put this project out to tender and three specialist research/town planning consultancies have been sent a brief. This project will become definite in the next month or so. It should generate the solid justification we need to obtain funding for a revitalised village hall.

The study will involve a lot of people being contacted for interviews (maybe via telephone), and meetings with specific groups and individuals. Once the details are finalised we will be able to provide fuller information.

Email for more info or to conatact any of the above.

Public Room Committee