29th March 2010 - We are delighted to announce the opening of the new Village Hall! It will be opened on Saturday 24th April 2010 by Mr Anthony Barber-Lomax, a representative of the Fitzwilliam (Wentworth) Estate at 2pm. There will be an opening ceremony followed by an unveiling of a commemorative plaque with free celebratory bubbly and light snacks. There will also be a tree planting, children's activities and competitions and other attractions to celebrate the opening of the hall. In the evening there will be a swing band and hot meal. All villagers are invited and you should have by now received your invite and newsletter. Other, select people, who have contributed to the hall in some way will also be invited. Entry to the evening function is by ticket only and instructions on obtaining your free ticket are included with your invite. No ticket is needed for the afternoon function but please let us know how many you will bring so that we can cater correctly.
So, if you have received your invite then please come along and have a good nosey at your new village hall. Directors of the Billingley Village Community Assocation Ltd have worked tirelessly to establish the hall and are proud to present it to you, the villagers of Billingley.
We would like to thank all the help and support we have received from villagers, local businesses, and committee members (both past and present), the Fitzwilliam (Wentworth) Estate who gifted the land and derelict barn and, of course, the BIG lottery fund. Without such generosity we would not be where we are today.
We very much look forward to sharing the celebrations with you. To book your tickets please email committee@billingleyvillage.co.uk
29th October 2009 - The walls are just about built and the roof trusses are on. The gable end wall of the old barn has been repaired and looks great. We have to dig a trench all the way down to the High Street because there are apparently no sewers on Back Lane and this has to be done before Highways resurface High Street.
August 2009 - The
builders have been appointed and the work will start on Tuesday 1st
September! The projected hand-over date is 4th January 2010.
March 2008 - We have sent out new survey to all of the village and the results will be used to further our application.
Jan 2008 - we have been successful in reaching stage two of the lottery process. We are now carrying out a lot of work that is required to complete this next demanding stage of the process.
2007 - Lottery guidelines are now more favourable for our project and we are therefore applying for lottery funding.
2004 - The Billingley Village Community Association was set up in order to take forward plans to establish a village hall for Billingley. They obtained a small lottery grant a few years ago to buy a marquee. This is well used in summer months for a variety of events, but relies heavily on a small but committed group of villagers who have to erect and dismantle the marquee for each event.
There is great enthusiasm in the village, (confirmed by a survey) for a village hall. This would provide a facility for leisure activities and for the first time, enable services for the older and younger residents, - a luncheon club, and Toddler/playgroup venue. Billingley was historically part of the large Wentworth Woodhouse estate, and as part of a planning agreement in the late 1970’s, the Trustees of the estate were required to gift the village a plot of land to build a village hail. A Charitable Trust was formed 6 years ago to facilitate the handing over of the land. The intention was to apply for a lottery grant during the time when Village Hall funding was a high priority. Unfortunately the setting up of the charity and the subsequent conveyance of the land took almost 4 years and the lottery rules have now changed. The Charitable Trust, 'Billingley Village Community Association' (BVCA) has been advised that lottery funding is unlikely in the present climate, and that it should seek to obtain a portfolio of smaller grants. Plans for a village hall have been drawn up, and indicative costs (including professional fees) are between £150,000 and £200,000 for a complete re-build and somewhat less for a renovation. The hall is of modest size, and it is intended to utilise the marquee, to be erected as an annexe for large occasional functions. The costs are relatively high, as the local authority has stipulated high cost construction materials.
A business plan has been drawn up and the BVCA is confident that the hall project is sustainable. Letting income will generate sufficient income to cover both short-term running expenses and contribute to sinking fund for longer-term maintenance.
On 27th May 2003 the committee decided that the plans to knock down the existing barn and re-build a new one were cost prohibitive (the architect's plans for the new building have, therefore, been removed from this website.). Therefore, the current plans are to renovate the existing building and eventually extend it so that it is large enough to cope with village demands. In the short term, early 2004, renovation work will commence by a local builder to begin making the existing structure safe, followed by works to make the building weather tight. This will be phase 1.
No funds, as yet, have been secured to carry out this work but the committee are currently working very hard on the villagers' behalf to obtain grants and funding for the whole project.
Progress on the works will be posted here so please keep checking back for reports.
In July 2007 the floor was taken up and re-laid in accordance with planning regulations.
7th June 2004
21st June 2004 the roof is replaced and the walls are straightened.
The 17th July 2005 saw the inaugural event on the new village hall site - a BBQ
The upper windows were fitted in September 2005.