£1m village hall bid revealed

Plans have been unveiled for a new £1 million village hall which it is hoped will become the heart of community life. A planning application has been submitted for the development in Preston, near Wingham, which already has a 1960s centre no longer considered fit for purpose.

Architects have drawn up a contemporary-looking centre with all the necessary features and say the design complements some of the more historic nearby properties, including the adjacent village school.

It will have large and small halls, with complementing kitchens, changing rooms, office accommodation and toilets, all meeting the latest access requirements.

Among the activities it is hoped to introduce is short matt bowls.

The aim is to erect the new building next to the existing one, which will be demolished when it is complete.

But some neighbours, especially in Downs Road, are objecting to the development, complaining that it is too near their homes and they will be disturbed by the noise its activities will generate.

The village hall committee is fundraising and seeking grant support for the new building. It already has £250,000 in the kitty from contributions from the housing development of the former Salvatori site in the village.

Committee chairman Jill Matthews said: “Our old hall is no longer fit for purpose and we believe a new one could become a real community hub, not just for Preston, but also Stourmouth and Westmarsh.

“As well as space to accommodate a variety of groups and activities, like table tennis, there are a number of extra services it could host, like a post office, mobile banking, library and even chiropody.”

Cllr Matthews says the first hurdle is to get planning permission from Dover District Council, after which the committee will be in a better position to apply for lottery funding and other grants.