RESIDENTS in Westbury are being asked for their views to help shape ‘urgent’ refurbishment plans for a 150 year old parish hall.
The White Horse Team Ministry’s consultation on the modernisation scheme for All Saints Parish Hall, which was built in 1873, runs until 19th March.
Built by the church as the Sunday School room and subsequently used by Westbury Junior School and then the Laverton County Infants School, it became the parish hall in 1968 when a new modern school was opened on Eden Vale Road.
Since then it has acted as a space for parish activities and as a community facility. Regular users include Rainbow Play School, 1st Westbury Brownies and Guides, the St John’s Ambulance Cadets, Mothers’ Union, and Little Saints. It is also used for community events and celebrations such as the Church Street Residents’ Association, Westbury Town Council, and others.
The White Horse Team Ministry said, “However, after nearly 150 years All Saints’ Parish Hall is no longer fit for purpose and is in urgent need of renovation. The space is not flexible enough for our needs and the layout causes problems. The kitchen is no longer viable and there are maintenance issues.”
The ministry want All Saints’ Parish Hall to provide modern and attractive facilities to serve the current and future needs of the congregation “and be able to show God’s love to the people of Westbury.”
Local people are being consulted with the aim of finding out how best they can be served, and to meet the needs of a wider range of users and make full use of the space available.
To take part in the consultation go to http://whtministry.org.uk/?p=3671
“We have a lot of ideas for involving people in the project including some work to find out more about the history of the building and its past as a local school,” the ministry says, and added that residents can watch out to see how plans develop.
Volunteers are being sought, with fundraising, project management and experience of working within the community, to join the project steering group. For more information contact churchwarden, Beth Thomas via Westbury wcw@whtministry.org.uk
