Sutton Bonington

VILLAGE HALL REOPENS. Like every village hall in the UK, Sutton Bonington‘s suffered difficulties at the outbreak of the pandemic problems, and was forced to close its doors to prevent gatherings of people and the risk that brought of helping to spread the virus that was affecting the whole of the country.

But now, with the easing of restrictions, the hall is open for business again and looking forward to providing its facilities to help ensure the social life of the village returns, be it safely and still with event organisers being reminded of the need to continue to adhere to any ongoing restrictions that could still apply.

The Sutton Bonington Village Hall Committee -- the Trustees responsible for its well-being -- has been overseeing the running and upkeep of the building for almost 70 years.

The Hall was built in 1912 and is now close to celebrating its 110th year of use.

Since erection of the much loved building it has been extended, once in the 1950s and again in the 1970s. There has been a significant refurbishment of the facility in the last eight or so years.

Say the Trustees: “Through obtaining grants from Awards for All, Bernard Sunley Foundation, Rushcliffe Borough Council and other charitable organisations, as well as self- funding through fundraising events and dances, we have been able to raise the money to carry out the work.”

The upgrade of the toilets and providing a disabled toilet in 2012 was Phase One of the work on the building. . Phase Two was the main roof as there was an issue with some leaks and lack of insulation. Again through obtaining grants from Awards for All, cash for that necessary work also came from Rushcliffe Borough Council and some fundraising activities and dances, making its possible for the building to have repairs undertaken and re-roofing work carried out as well as replacing the old guttering in 2016.

A year later, in 2017, Phase Three of the improvement scheme, with grant money from Wren, Bernard Sunley Foundation, Westfield Garton Foundation, Rushcliffe Borough Council and selffunding, significantly improved the Main Hall with new electrics and LED lighting, new front doors to the main entrance and corridor, which has been designed more sympathetically with a false ceiling and carpeted floor. The work didn’t stop there and In Phase Four the trustees obtained funding to update and refurbish the original front entrance with new aluminium doors and refurbish store rooms where the chairs and tables general day to day use are kept..

The next Phase is to refurbish the Committee Room and rear entrance to the Village Hall adding new aluminium doors that match those on the front and to replace the remaining old doors so that they match the new fire doors we already have.

The Village Hall is a registered charity and those responsible work hard to keep the much used building functional for the benefit of the local community. The Hall can be used by anyone and it has been the objective over the years for it to provide a facility to any individual or organisation which requires its use.

The Trustees say their main purpose is to make sure that the building is kept warm, safe and welcoming to users for whatever function. The Hall is central to the village and offers a range of facilities and activities used by many organisations.

In normal times it is used extensively for events and meetings every week of the year , offering as its does a large open meeting area, a committee room and a kitchen. It is available to use seven days a week and availability can be checked on its bookings calendar.

The facility can be booked for a minimum of one hour or for an entire weekend.

POWER SUPPLY. Parish councillors at Sutton Bonington are proceeding with a project to approve work for installation of a power supply at the Jubilee Tree by Western Power to enable festive lights at Christmas.

Coun. Sheila Harrod has told members that she had now received a further quote from Via for £2,571.67 for all civil works, including the excavation required for the feeder pillar and ducting. Excavation for the necessary work will take place over the footpath, so once the ducting and feeder pillar have been installed, Via will reinstate the footpath with that including re-tarring the surface and putting any stones and slabs back in place.

The costs quoted do not include the provision of actual lights which the parish council will be responsible for. It was noted that the parish council will have to supply the actual tree lights.

The council have accepted the quote and Via have been asked to proceed with the works.

PLAN REFUSED. Rushcliffe Borough Council have refused planning permission for the proposed erection of ‘ one and a half ‘garage to the front of the existing house, 76 Park Lane Sutton Bonington.

PLANTERS. Sutton Bonington parish council chairman Coun. Julie McMullen Kerr is to take responsibility for looking after two planters proposed to be provided adjacent to the Jubilee Tree in the village.

The new planters are replacing the original one that because of its age has deteriorated and fallen apart.

The council will fill the new planters in memory of two residents.

CHURCH HISTORIES. questions answered.

“We looked forward to sharing how our vision for a sensitive, green and forward-thinking facility will be realised at the site. We want to show how it will be sensitively developed and how the grounds will still encourage local nature to thrive.”