A planning application has recently been submitted to North Yorkshire Council by the Village Hall Committee for the following improvements to the Village Hall and Playing Fields.

1. Completion of the tarmacadam perimeter path to imporve accessibility for all users as well as making it easier for wheelchairs and prams to get to the grassed area in front of the hall.

2. Painting the front elevation of the hall.

3. The installation of solar panels.

Of these three projects, the latter two are still in the early planning stages but the Committee considered it made financial sense to include all three within the one planning application, an expensive process.

All of these proposed improvements received a positive response from among those villagers who responded to the Village Hall survey earlier this year. The tarmacadam path was universally supported across all age groups, while almost 70% responded favourably to the installation of solar panels.

It is hoped that a substantial proportion of the not inconsiderable cost will be funded by Commuted Sums from the Council with Village Halls funds meeting any shortfall. Commuted Sums is a pot of money made up of one-off capital payments, often made by developers of new projects, to a local authority, to help ensure the continuation and enhancement of local community facilities.

https://publicaccess.northyorks.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=T20SIVLTIAH00