Plans for £470,000 modernisation of parish hall on hold

PLANS to modernise Benson parish hall are on hold once again.

The parish council is still unsure what to do despite making changes to the £470,000 scheme.

Under its current plans the changing rooms in the pavilion adjoining the hall would be converted into a lounge and storage area and new toilets and a kitchen would be created. The ground floor lounge of the parish hall would become an office for staff, who currently work on the first floor.

There would also be a store room and the kitchen and toilets would be upgraded.

The post office would be relocated from the pavilion to the main building. A sliding partition would be fitted to the front of the stage so it could be used as a room when necessary. Teresa McTeague, who chairs the council’s halls committee, said the council was to “have another look” at the plans.



Council chairwoman Pat Peers said: “The thing we must concentrate on is the office and making sure we have got a suitable office for the clerk.”

Councillor Rob Workman said: “I think the scale has always been a bit too big to be honest. We can’t do everything.” The plans were drawn up by architect Richard Cutler. The original scheme was costed at £500,000 and then scaled back last year.

Cllr McTeague said that since then there had been a significant rise in the cost of tradesmen and materials.

Members agreed to review the plans.