Councils, community & businesses collaborate to re-vamp village hub

 Lighthorne Heath Village Hall reopens this Saturday, 14 July.  

The opening of a newly refurbished village hall is set to benefit the residents of Lighthorne Heath, following a joint effort by Lighthorne Heath Parish Council, Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Warwickshire County Council who have worked with local community groups and businesses to repair and refresh the building.

In July 2017 significant defects to the flooring prevented use of the hall and its doors closed to the community.

A collective effort, led by Stratford-on-Avon District Council and supported by Lighthorne Heath Parish Council, drew on S106 community contribution funds from housing developers at the Gaydon Lighthorne Heath development to support the refurbishment.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council provided monies upfront to install a new wooden floor, provide internal decoration and replacement windows.

Orbit contractor Dodds provided a replacement kitchen, electrical works, security, new doors and new flooring from the main hall onwards as part of their community investment pledge. The project also saw other organisations such as the Community Payback Scheme and the Methodist Church become involved, with the entire inside of the hall receiving a complete repaint. 

Jaguar Land Rover also committed 20 volunteers to carry out substantial landscaping works around the hall, including the removal and reuse of stone slabs which will form a new footpath up to a storage facility.

The hall will also benefit from Stratford-on-Avon District's Digital Inclusion Funding which will provide free Wi-Fi, with activities to include an internet café as well as adult and community learning classes.  

Ian Campbell, Chair of Lighthorne Heath Parish Council said: "We are really pleased with the finished look and look forward to welcoming the community to use the hall."

Cllr Jacqui Harris, ward member for Harbury and Cllr Peter Richards, Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Housing at Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: "We are delighted that the refurbishment of this vital facility will make a difference to the local community and will enable residents within the village to access community groups and activities locally." 

Cllr Jacqui Harris continued: "This has been a long and hard project, but it has been worthwhile to now see the superb facility available for the local community.  I would like to recognise and thank all those local residents that have been involved in making this happen."    

Cllr Chris Williams, Warwickshire County Councillor for the Kineton and Red Horse Division said: "I am delighted to see the final result of the refurbished Village Hall in Lighthorne Heath.  My thanks go to everyone who has been involved in achieving this remarkable result in such a short time and this is a wonderful example of multi-agency working for the benefit of the community.  I am sure that local people using the hall will appreciate and enjoy the experience of using the improved facilities."

On Saturday 14 July the hall will be open throughout the afternoon from 1pm to 4pm on to coincide with the village fete.