New village hall in Lea-by-Backford is given go-ahead
New venue will replace a community hub which was erected in 1950.
An artist's impression of how the new hall will look when completed in June
Written by Stephen Thackray
Mollington, Backford & District Village Hall are looking forward to their new home after The National Lottery Fund gave them 'permission to proceed' on their new community hub.
The Lottery awarded over £640,000 to help them to start work on the new hall on Station Roadin Lea-by-Backford, Cheshire, to replace the old 1950 hall, with further financial support provided by many other funders, both local and national as well as private donors. The project, valued at £1 million, started on January 4, 2021.
The current village hall which serves the local five villages’ community was erected in 1950 and has been in constant use ever since as a meeting place for social, cultural, sporting and educational activities.
Faced with increasing maintenance costs and limited space the committee started planning a re-build project in 2016 which now has culminated in a build start in early January 2021. Completion is planned for early June 2021. The hall’s project team was led from inception to contract sign-off by Colin Davies.
The new building will offer 137 m2 sized main hall with stage for events, classes and sporting activities including badminton along with a 38 m2 activity room and associated kitchen and bar area, reception and store rooms. Planning of a new MUGA outdoor games area will start in the new year to create future opportunities for the community to keep healthy via sport – initially indoors and then outdoors as well.
With the creation of these new spaces the committee expect increased demand from local service and activity providers wanting to expand their business in an easily accessible, brand-new venue with facilities including ample parking.
Village Hall chairwoman Rosie Sedgwick says: “We are all excited at the prospect of taking possession of our new hall next June, seeing the return of our existing hirers and users as well as welcoming new activity providers.
"Our new hall will offer something for everyone, young and old. The Five Villages community is grateful to The National Lottery and to the many other grant providers, national and local for their contributions. These have helped to provide a social catalyst for the benefit of the local community and beyond.”
The project has had the support from Chester MP Chris Matheson who said:
“I cannot express how happy and am to hear this news.” whilst Ward Councillor Simon Eardley added “ I very much look forward to seeing the project continue to progress in the months ahead now it is full steam ahead.”
