COMMUNITY HUB IN TOFT NEWTON OFFICIALLY OPENS ITS DOORS

CELEBRATIONS have just taken place to mark the completion of the new village hall in Toft Newton, Lincolnshire.

The fit for purpose building received one of the largest Big Lottery Fund grants ever given, receiving £793,362 thanks to architecture, sports and leisure firm LK2, which drove the project forward and helped to secure much-needed funding. A further £75,000 was also secured through West Lindsey District Council and Lincolnshire County Council.

The modern village hall has replaced a temporary building that was erected more than 25-years ago and had minimal facilities. The new build incorporates kitchen facilities, two sports changing rooms, two function rooms and a bar.

Andrew Kitchen director at LK2 said: “The new village hall has helped to create a stronger sense of community well-being and provided improved access to existing and new activities. Thanks to the substantial funding we secured for the scheme, we have been able to support the scheme through business planning, funding applications and architectural services.”

“The new building will allow the Toft Newton Village Hall Association to provide services and events organised by the local community which will have a positive impact on the community. The development has also improved access to the hall for older people who are now able to take part in activities, which can only benefit the village in the long-term. We are proud to be part of this project and we are certain it will continue to benefit local people for years to come.”

Toft Newton Village Hall Association vice chairman, Robert Nelson said: “The new building is fantastic, it provides a venue for many new community events as well as those that ran from the old building. Our building has been split into three distinct parts, meaning it can cater to the community in many different ways, we consider it to be a ‘swiss army knife’ of a building. It can cater for sports thanks to its state of the art changing facilities, a community room with seating for 80 people and finally a large function room which can cater for 120 people with or without seating.

“The community has been waiting years for such a facility and it will continue to support the community for years to come.”

Cllr Di Rodgers at West Lindsey District Council, said: “I have been associated with Toft Newton for over eight years and attended Parish Council meetings and social functions in the old sports pavilion that served as a community centre; a new village hall has been in demand for a long time.

“It is entirely due to the efforts and achievements of the Toft Newton Village Hall Association, LK2, West Lindsey District Council, and local residents that the Big Lottery Fund was persuaded to step in. Clearly they were as impressed as I have been with the spirit and enthusiasm of this small community and how the project has been run. The result is a handsome building that will serve their social needs for years to come.”