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From the newsletter:
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Brief background
The topic of a new community hall for Higher Denham has been discussed at committee meetings for sometime and was first suggested to residents at the AGM in 2013.
Since then we have:
- kept you up to date of committee discussions via the Newsletter
- held a specific meeting in February 2014 to discuss the proposal and to hear your views
- sent a questionnaire to all residents in March 2014 and collated the 44 responses received
The purpose of this communication
The purpose of this communication is to obtain the view of every house-hold in Higher Denham to hear whether building a new hall should be progressed.
We will only proceed further if 51% or more of residents who respond* are in favour of building a new Hall
Benefits of a new hall in Higher Denham
A new hall facility will:
- complement the entrance into the village and the area we live in, rather than the existing dated wooden building
- be the focal point of the community, bringing better facilities for everyone of all ages to enjoy
- be fit for purpose for today, the next generation and beyond
- provide much improved facilities including modern segregated toilets, baby changing and disabled facilities, a purpose built kitchen fit to serve an array of refreshments adequate for all types of gatherings,
- accommodate a much wider range of recreational and sporting options than possible in the existing hall. For example a larger hall would be able to provide badminton or gym facilities
- provide residents with preferential rates on Hall classes and activities and hire charges for parties etc
Community facilities are generally considered favourably by potential house-buyers. A local estate agent was approached to confirm this is the case and we were advised:
“Having excellent community facilities such as the Hall and the Glebe Field makes Higher Denham a very desirable place to live, particularly for young families, and this is reflected in the strong house prices and their saleability.” Turbervilles Estate Agents, Uxbridge
Main Concerns Raised by Residents
Q. Why not leave the current hall as it is?
A.The role of a community facility has changed since the original hall was built in 1948 and the existing hall was built in 1971. Over the years residents have enjoyed barn dances, jumble sales, whist club, snooker evenings etc. However community life has changed and families are now looking for different activities to fill their social and leisure time and pre-fer those that include all of the family and are sport, fitness or hobby related.
Q. What about the covenants on the land?
A.There are covenants on the Glebe Field that prevent it being used for anything except recreational activities, however since we would be replacing the existing hall and liberating the land that it currently stands on for recreational use, we do not expect this to cause any problems. Moreover, if a new hall had changing rooms and toilets directly accessible from the field, it would facilitate better use of the field for recreational use.
Q. A new hall will spoil our quaint village
A. The current Hall will become more outdated and will deteriorate further, eventually becoming uninsurable. It can be patched up but this is not a cheap option and is only deferring problems that will be encountered in the future. Building a new hall within the next couple of years will enhance the entrance to Higher Denham, while providing much needed and better facilities for those that live here, as well as current local users.
Q. How much is it going to cost and where will the funds come from?
A. A purpose built building to include a multi-functional hall, social bar, kitchen, toilets and storage, plus facilities for a commercial concern to generate funds to repay the building loan will be in the region of £500k.
Grants and a loan will fund the building of a new hall. Revenue generated by hiring the hall will not be enough to repay the loan, therefore a commercial element will be needed to do this. The favoured option at the moment is a nursery facility which we have discussed with you at previous meetings. This would be a benefit to residents with small children and Martin Baker employees. Both would enjoy preferential rates. Other revenue options we are looking into are a small community shop and gymnasium/fitness area.
A Building committee will be formed to run the project and it will be their responsibility to keep within the agreed budget.
We assure you that building a new hall will be at no cost to residents.
(*The closing date for responses was Monday 14th July)
The topic of a new community hall for Higher Denham has been discussed at committee meetings for sometime and was first suggested to residents at the AGM in 2013.
Since then we have:
- kept you up to date of committee discussions via the Newsletter
- held a specific meeting in February 2014 to discuss the proposal and to hear your views
- sent a questionnaire to all residents in March 2014 and collated the 44 responses received
The purpose of this communication
The purpose of this communication is to obtain the view of every house-hold in Higher Denham to hear whether building a new hall should be progressed.
We will only proceed further if 51% or more of residents who respond* are in favour of building a new Hall
Benefits of a new hall in Higher Denham
A new hall facility will:
- complement the entrance into the village and the area we live in, rather than the existing dated wooden building
- be the focal point of the community, bringing better facilities for everyone of all ages to enjoy
- be fit for purpose for today, the next generation and beyond
- provide much improved facilities including modern segregated toilets, baby changing and disabled facilities, a purpose built kitchen fit to serve an array of refreshments adequate for all types of gatherings,
- accommodate a much wider range of recreational and sporting options than possible in the existing hall. For example a larger hall would be able to provide badminton or gym facilities
- provide residents with preferential rates on Hall classes and activities and hire charges for parties etc
Community facilities are generally considered favourably by potential house-buyers. A local estate agent was approached to confirm this is the case and we were advised:
“Having excellent community facilities such as the Hall and the Glebe Field makes Higher Denham a very desirable place to live, particularly for young families, and this is reflected in the strong house prices and their saleability.” Turbervilles Estate Agents, Uxbridge
Main Concerns Raised by Residents
Q. Why not leave the current hall as it is?
A.The role of a community facility has changed since the original hall was built in 1948 and the existing hall was built in 1971. Over the years residents have enjoyed barn dances, jumble sales, whist club, snooker evenings etc. However community life has changed and families are now looking for different activities to fill their social and leisure time and pre-fer those that include all of the family and are sport, fitness or hobby related.
Q. What about the covenants on the land?
A.There are covenants on the Glebe Field that prevent it being used for anything except recreational activities, however since we would be replacing the existing hall and liberating the land that it currently stands on for recreational use, we do not expect this to cause any problems. Moreover, if a new hall had changing rooms and toilets directly accessible from the field, it would facilitate better use of the field for recreational use.
Q. A new hall will spoil our quaint village
A. The current Hall will become more outdated and will deteriorate further, eventually becoming uninsurable. It can be patched up but this is not a cheap option and is only deferring problems that will be encountered in the future. Building a new hall within the next couple of years will enhance the entrance to Higher Denham, while providing much needed and better facilities for those that live here, as well as current local users.
Q. How much is it going to cost and where will the funds come from?
A. A purpose built building to include a multi-functional hall, social bar, kitchen, toilets and storage, plus facilities for a commercial concern to generate funds to repay the building loan will be in the region of £500k.
Grants and a loan will fund the building of a new hall. Revenue generated by hiring the hall will not be enough to repay the loan, therefore a commercial element will be needed to do this. The favoured option at the moment is a nursery facility which we have discussed with you at previous meetings. This would be a benefit to residents with small children and Martin Baker employees. Both would enjoy preferential rates. Other revenue options we are looking into are a small community shop and gymnasium/fitness area.
A Building committee will be formed to run the project and it will be their responsibility to keep within the agreed budget.
We assure you that building a new hall will be at no cost to residents.
(*The closing date for responses was Monday 14th July)
(version:June 27 final)
Higher Denham Community Association
invites all residents
to a meeting to discuss a proposal
for a new Community Hall
for Higher Denham
Date: Tuesday 11th February 2014
Time: 7.45pm in the Hall
Residents are invited to attend the meeting
to discuss this important matter
Purpose of meeting:
As discussed at the 2013 Annual General Meeting and in subsequent Newsletter updates, the current Higher Denham Community Hall having served the community for many years, is now reaching the end of its life span.
As a community we have to consider and decide the Hall’s future. Do we continue to maintain the building in its current state for as long as community finances allow us to, or should we consider replacing it with a modern, purpose built building for the residents of today and for years to come?
Please come along and hear the Community Association Committee’s views and ideas and we will be asking for input from residents too.
This is a discussion meeting with decisions (if any) being made at the AGM on Thursday 20th March 2014.
Here are some of the discussion points, but please do come and bring your own.
Do we need a new Hall?
The Community Hall at Higher Denham was originally built many years ago and has been extended and modified in more recent years. Most of the structure is made of wood and it does not have sound or heat insulation. In particular, the roof of the building will require renovation within the next few years and the wooden structure is rotting in places.
The Social Case
The existing Hall is well used by the local community for many things including health and fitness activities, children’s parties, Senior lunches, support for “Open Gardens” and other communal events. The Social Club is used most days as the focal point of community social gatherings. Higher Denham does not have, and is unlikely to ever have, a church, a pub or a shop. The Hall is therefore the centre of all our communal activities along with the Glebe Field that the HDCA also manages on behalf of local residents. As such these facilities are essential to prevent Higher Denham becoming merely a sleeping dormitory estate.
A new Hall with sound insulation would, almost certainly, attract even more activities without being an irritant to residents living close by. Heat insulation would save on heating costs and generally benefit the environment.
The Business Case
If residents are in agreement that a new Hall is needed a sound business case will be compiled. Initial thoughts are that a new building would occupy the same area foot-print, but potentially not on the same site. Funding will be a critical part of the plan-ning and the CA Treasurer is currently looking at options and will share these with you at the meeting on 11th February.
A new Hall should be used much more - what facilities could it include and what would you like to see?
The committee of the HDCA is aware that many threads would need to be pulled to-gether to make a new Hall for Higher Denham a reality - and this is why we need to hear your thoughts and views at this important initial discussion stage.
As discussed at the 2013 Annual General Meeting and in subsequent Newsletter updates, the current Higher Denham Community Hall having served the community for many years, is now reaching the end of its life span.
As a community we have to consider and decide the Hall’s future. Do we continue to maintain the building in its current state for as long as community finances allow us to, or should we consider replacing it with a modern, purpose built building for the residents of today and for years to come?
Please come along and hear the Community Association Committee’s views and ideas and we will be asking for input from residents too.
This is a discussion meeting with decisions (if any) being made at the AGM on Thursday 20th March 2014.
Here are some of the discussion points, but please do come and bring your own.
Do we need a new Hall?
The Community Hall at Higher Denham was originally built many years ago and has been extended and modified in more recent years. Most of the structure is made of wood and it does not have sound or heat insulation. In particular, the roof of the building will require renovation within the next few years and the wooden structure is rotting in places.
The Social Case
The existing Hall is well used by the local community for many things including health and fitness activities, children’s parties, Senior lunches, support for “Open Gardens” and other communal events. The Social Club is used most days as the focal point of community social gatherings. Higher Denham does not have, and is unlikely to ever have, a church, a pub or a shop. The Hall is therefore the centre of all our communal activities along with the Glebe Field that the HDCA also manages on behalf of local residents. As such these facilities are essential to prevent Higher Denham becoming merely a sleeping dormitory estate.
A new Hall with sound insulation would, almost certainly, attract even more activities without being an irritant to residents living close by. Heat insulation would save on heating costs and generally benefit the environment.
The Business Case
If residents are in agreement that a new Hall is needed a sound business case will be compiled. Initial thoughts are that a new building would occupy the same area foot-print, but potentially not on the same site. Funding will be a critical part of the plan-ning and the CA Treasurer is currently looking at options and will share these with you at the meeting on 11th February.
A new Hall should be used much more - what facilities could it include and what would you like to see?
The committee of the HDCA is aware that many threads would need to be pulled to-gether to make a new Hall for Higher Denham a reality - and this is why we need to hear your thoughts and views at this important initial discussion stage.
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