Plan to transform village hall
Glassford Community Group have revealed ambitious plans to redevelop the village hall into a thriving community hub.
Initial designs include both a shop and a café as well as meeting spaces and a redevelopment of the hall and stage on Alston Street.
If given the green light by the local authority, the refurbishment is expected to take 18 months to complete.
The group took over ownership of the hall in September following a successful community asset transfer and have now submitted a planning application to South Lanarkshire Council after securing funding to pay for the design phase.
Architect Raymond Angus of Angus Design Associates has been appointed along with consultant, Martin McManus, who has been working with the group on the development plans since 2019.
Glassford Community Group will be applying for grants over the next few months to help fund the venture.
The popular Glassford Beer and Gin Festival will also be returning on March 23 with all proceeds going towards the redevelopment.
Chair Ian Dickson said: “The community consultation, which resulted in over 180 responses from 240 households, showed that the priorities were to create a community hub with social spaces, a shop and a café.
“We are also creating flexible spaces for meetings and sport/art/leisure classes and a hall suitable for events, concerts, cinema and larger classes.
“There will also be a welcoming space for events with a bar and kitchen, a new stage and upstairs changing rooms for performers which can also be used as meeting spaces.
“We are grateful to South Lanarkshire Council and the community-led local development fund for its help in getting us to this stage and we were delighted with the feedback from our open event on November 11 which saw a good number of residents come in to talk to us about the plans, and that feedback has been incorporated into the plans.”
The community group, which is a registered charity, submitted its planning application in December and is now awaiting the outcome.
Secretary Les Hoggan said: “With the planning application in, our next challenge is raising the funds to undertake the redevelopment. The costs are significant for a small community, being into seven figures, but we are confident that funders will get behind our aims to deliver a true community hub for the village.”
Ian Dickson added: “Our timescales are challenging but we think achievable. Subject to planning, warrants and funding, we aim to break ground later this year.
“The site is ideal to provide us with a café, meeting spaces, welcome zone and hall/stage on one level, with the shop, storage and plant room below.
“We think this will be a welcome addition to Glassford for the 21st century and we are delighted our project is now underway.”