Correspondence regarding the new village hall are displayed below
The letters are numbered so if you would like to comment on an individual letter please quote the number when using the comment form at the end of this page.
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Letter 1 – Author – H C Parker
Dear Sirs,
You have asked for opinions in writing by May 14th, ahead of the public meeting on May 19th. I understand that at the recent closed meeting, it was stated that no notice would be taken of other peoples opinions but here they are anyway.
While I am not naive enough to believe that the current hall will last forever, I am fervently opposed to the proposals favoured by the fund raising committee for the reasons which I shall outline. The plan, as I understand it, is to sell the site of the current hall for development, the proceeds of which will go towards the cost of a new building. This sum plus moneys raised by donation would be made up by grants. If your `steering group`get their way the new hall will be built on land adjacent to the village playing field.
My first objection is that this is a green-field site, in the conservation area and if not within the Cotswolds A.O.N.B., within its` buffer zone. It is also outside the “village envelope” which is a phrase used by the district council planning department. Developments in the villages in recent years have already impacted noticeably on these designations and I believe that the line should be drawn. Otherwise what is the point of protected areas? A development such as you propose would significantly alter the character of the village. I am also aware of some concern that such a development would pave the way for more housing infill Eastwards along the adjacent fields, which would not be popular and is contrary to recent planning policy and the Village Design Statement. The district council may have stated that this would not be so but any development would be the thin end of the wedge in my opinion, and property developers are notorious for getting their own way. We should be protecting our environment better for future generations. Your response to this will be, of course, that the village should be allowed to grow as it always has done to accommodate new families, the sons and daughters of our generation, and rightly so. There, is a world of difference, however, between change through necessity and change for changes sake.
My second objection to the scheme is that there would be a significant impact on the drainage systems. I believe a car-parking area is envisaged and the rainwater run-off from this and the roof of the building would doubtless be taken into the surface water drains which are already unable to cope. I believe they were installed in the 1930`s and we have ongoing problems all round the villages on a regular basis. Despite these, the extra run-off would find its` way to the river Stour more quickly, instead of soaking slowly through the ground, and add to the problems at times of flood. Similarly with the rainwater discharge of the houses proposed for the current hall site and the soil drains of these would add stress to the already overstretched (some would say inadequate) sewerage system. You may not be aware that this is currently an issue in regard to the low cost housing scheme which is about to get underway in Brailes.
As I have said, the Village hall won`t last forever but there is absolutely no reason I can see why a new hall couldn`t be built on the same site at a vastly smaller cost than that which is proposed. I believe also that I am not alone in holding the opinion that the existing hall, for the time being, is perfectly adequate for purpose (albeit a little shabby) there is even the possibility that it is worthy of becoming a listed building, it being over eighty years old already. It could be kept going for many years to come for the sort of investment which is chicken feed compared to the sums being bandied about for the new hall. If I am correct, the sum raised already ought to be more than enough to upgrade and insulate the roof, repair the brickwork at the base and consolidate the bearing of the timber frame. Although I gather that accurate costings have yet to be “conjured out of the air” it seems to me that four hundred and fifty thousand pounds is a ridiculous amount to spend on a village hall and that you need to rein in your ambitions. These are just small villages and their needs are actually quite simple. We don`t need a sports complex. I gather you say that it would have to be on a new site so that we are not without a hall during construction but I am sure that a prefabricated timber construction could be completed in only a few months and for much less cost, and so what if a new one of masonry were put up, on the current plot, that took over a year ? I`m sure we could manage. I believe that you have stated or implied that grants would not be available to build on the existing site? I simply can`t believe that this would be the case. If grants are available, they are available, surely the location of the building makes no difference?
It is my belief that the present village hall is where it is meant to be. The land it stands on was given for the purpose by a local family and we should maintain our links with the past. To build a new one somewhere else would alter the character of the villages and building houses on the old site would not be appropriate, especially given the recent historical planning status of the villages. In fact, given that using the existing site would incur no land costs, that the services are in place and that planning permission would not be an issue, one has to wonder why anyone with the best interests of the parishes uppermost in their minds would consider moving it at all.
It is questionable whether a new Village hall is a viable proposition in the first place. We are often hearing of other villages round about who have had new halls which are running at a loss. Once the novelty wears off, usage has been no greater than before. Presumably the hire costs would increase dramatically which could even discourage users, particularly myself. The demographic trend in the countryside today means less and less demand for village halls is likely. Less young people- no more youth club, less babies-no mums and tots etc. The “architecture” of most of them is incongruous with their surroundings and communities are left with a white elephant to maintain.
I don`t really understand the purpose of the proposed vote on May 19th. The wording in the Brick suggests that the meeting is for the purpose of agreeing with the committees proposals rather than discussing alternatives with the public, including, in so far as is reasonable, details of costings for all possibilities, which is what should be happening. Perhaps a goood idea in view of the mood of the populace would be another questionnaire, sent to every household, with comprehensive information and unambiguous questions. I`m sure the response would be from a greater number of residents this time and would give a clearer picture of village opinion. The rate of accumulation of funds (for which you are to be commended) suggests that you have plenty of time to do this.
To summarise,
New village hall ? Yes, when the current one is unusable.
New village hall on a new greenfield site ? No. Never.
Maintain and upgrade the current hall ? Yes
for my preference, though I realise I may be in the minority on that one. I think it could easily reach its` centenary and beyond and that it would be to our shame if it were not allowed to do so.
I am certain that some of my views are shared by many in the villages and I hope that they are all able to attend on May 19th.
Yours most sincerely,
H.C.Parker.
Letter 2 – Author – Ross K Graham
Sadly I am unable to attend any of the meetings proposed to discuss the different ideas regarding the village hall, but following a chat down at the Cherington Arms, I was encouraged to send you my thoughts in writing. Also, I have sent a copy to the community website (webmaster@cssvillages.co.uk).
Firstly, it should be said that I am sympathetic to the ambitions of the village to have a village hall which would serve to provide an attractive venue for functions that benefit both invididuals living in the villages of Cherington and Stourton and providing a focal point to engender community spirit. My sense however is that the current proposals for building a new village hall will prove insufficiently appealing across the broad spectrum of those of us who live in the villages and accordingly will be difficult to justify in cost/benefit terms.
The way in which the new village hall might attract greater support and provide services and facilities more widely would be to embrace sporting activities. The land on which the new village hall is proposed to be built may not currently be quite large enough to accommodate a cricket square and outfield, but I suspect that those who own the fields surrounding the proposed building land might well be prepared to allow some of it to be used, such that the area is large enough to accommodate cricket and maybe other sporting facilities. The village hall could then serve as a pavilion (with bar) and in my experience there is nothing like a local village cricket team to attract the attention of a wide cross section of the village on a fine summer’s evening. Other outdoor sports could also be considered, such as football in the winter and maybe other games as well, subject to support. I am sure a number of people in the village would help maintain the cricket square and outfield. The youngsters in the village would have somewhere to play and expend their energies in a constrcutive and effective way and all of a sudden you have something that appeals to young and old and is a very real asset to the villages. The internal design of the village hall would have to be adapted to include changing rooms etc, but looking at the current outline that should not be, I believe, too difficult a task.
Maybe also the inside design of the hall could allow badminton or beach volley ball to be played. Winter recreation facilities are just as important as summer ones; some might well argue they are even more important when dark and miserable days/evenings are sapping the soul.
Absent any sporting appeal, my feeling is that proposals are simply too ambitious/costly and could not be justified by any sensible measure, and justified they will have to be because we will need to demonstrate a proper return on investment by reference to the services which the hall is providing and the benefits to the villages generally.
I hope this assists the debate.
Yours sincerely
Ross K Graham
Letter 3 – Author: Lou Braddel
I am writing to you with a plea to withhold the vote on the sale of the old Village Hall. You are asking people to vote on what is a sales presentation without sufficient figures to back it up. Once the Village Hall has been sold we are committed to go forward with a building across the road, yet there is no business plan. No projected figures for the costs of architects, quantity surveyors, external works, rates, usage, marketing, contingencies and a host of others.
It also seems quite wrong to ask people to put their names to a voting slip. If you want the village behind you on this project, the vote should be organized from the Electoral Roll with voting slips delivered to every house according to the number of occupants listed. As Links are delivered in these villages, this should not be an impossible project.
My concern is that we do not precipitately commit ourselves to something that lands the community in debt for years to come or is otherwise beyond our needs.
Lou
