Project manager to be brought in to replace hall roof

A PROJECT manager will be hired by Woodcote Parish Council to investigate the replacement of the flat roof of the village hall.

The council is the holder of the title deeds of the hall as custodian with the building’s day-to-day running being done by the village hall trustees.

In March last year, it was agreed to buy a new pitched zinc roof, costing around £410,000.

At the joint parish council and village hall meeting, it was revealed how new factors, including the parish council’s ambition to provide a community hub, could affect the plans.

Underpinning the creation of the hub was the use of the flat roof, which would require the closure of the majority of the hall for at least three months.

The hub would require an independent electricity supply, heating, catering, water processing and sanitation.

Current estimates to reinforce the roof are already significantly higher, even with developer contributions and parish council reserves.

The decision to gift the installation of the zinc roof to the village hall was reversed at the parish council’s October meeting.

At a meeting on Wednesday last week, it was agreed that an external project manager will be hired to scope out the potential remit for the roof, identifying its functional, performance and stakeholder requirements, its constraints, technical solutions and establish success measures.

Councillor Claire Bark said: “We need a project manager, not only to scope out the requirements but to potentially do a phased build, looking at how we can keep the pre-school in here, keeping it open and allowing the trustees to still make money to keep the general running costs going.

“This is all about how we gain control, how we end out at the point we want and how we remain really clear about our plan with some extra support and specialism.”