A MAKEOVER FOR THE CHURCH HALLS

by Rev. H.K. MCCurdy

Television is inundated with them; most evenings and certainly every morning there is at least one programme about renovating something or other. Style Challenge, Change That and Ground Force to name a few. We are in the age of 'makeover'. Now it's time for the Church Halls to receive the same treatment.

For many years these halls have been like a Village Hall - there isn't any other provision of this type in either Histon or Impington. We at St Andrew's, as owners of the site, want to ensure that this provision continues for as long as possible. We also recognise that to be of any real use in the next century they need a considerable amount of investment. In order to serve the needs of the whole community we can no longer 'make and mend', but need to do something more radical. Hence the decision to renovate the whole site. At the same time we are investigating setting up a new body to manage the whole project, thereby turning the Church Halls into a Community Centre available for the residents of both villages.

We want to see the best parts of the Halls retained, while enhancing that part of the village at the same time. The plans are not finished yet, but we want to show the wider village what is being considered and see what support we have for our ideas. You will see that the front of the best building (that on the right) is being retained, while elements of the other buildings are being incorporated into the new design.

Inside we have:

• a new entrance area which will hopefully double as a coffee shop where people can meet old as well as new friends;

• a space for regular exhibitions, whether they be art exhibitions, local history displays or local artefacts not normally seen as there is nowhere to exhibit them;

• a large hall behind the exhibition area. This space can be subdivided so that smaller groups need not feel overwhelmed by one large hall. These two rooms can then be linked to a third area, giving enough space for a sizeable gathering.

• a designated under five's area with special toilets and a kitchen for children to use. It is a room that would be used by the playgroup, toddlers and other groups working with pre-school children.

• a second storey hall has been introduced which can be used separately from the rest of the building.

• two office areas, one upstairs, the other downstairs. Both have access through the re-opened porch door at the far end of the building

• a new kitchen and toilets, including two toilets for the disabled.

It is our hope that all the present users, Stepping Stones Play and Toddler Group, The WI and all our other regular users will continue to use the new buildings and that a number of other people who long for this sort of facility in our community will make use of it too.

Frequent Questions

Who will pay?

The whole issue of funding has yet to be looked into, but we believe that there are a number of grant making bodies that support this sort of development. We realise that it will be too big a project for us to fund from within the local community alone. Therefore those responsible for the building in the future will have to turn their attention to this issue as a matter of priority.

What about car parking?

We realise this is a problem. There are no plans to extend the limited number of 'on road' spaces available at the front of the building. We cannot alter the appearance of the building allowing access to the rear of the site for parking. But as we hope it will primarily be used by local people many will be able to walk or cycle, share cars and park in the nearby car parks. We feel that if we provide a few spaces, everyone will hope to get one and drive to the Halls. But if people know there are no parking facilities there, we hope that they will make alternative arrangements.

Isn't there a better site?

This question has been raised time and time again over the years. Every now and then there is a rumour that a suitable site may be coming on the market. But if it dit, it would either cost too much, as it could be used for housing, or it would be used to supplement our limited number of open spaces. We do not believe there is an alternative site, and although there are problems with the site of the Church Halls, it is the only realistic option we have, if we want to have a Community Centre for Histon and Impington.

What can I do?

We need your support, comments and opinions. We need to hear your views as it is a community project and we want to be sure that we are going in the right direction. There are some folk who do not want any development on this site; they want the buildings, albeit 'smartened up', to remain as they are. We believe this would not be in the best interest of the village. The site must be improved both in appearance and in the facilities it has to offer.

Please let us know your thoughts. This can be done through a letter, the form in The Bridge, or in person at the Church Halls on the dates listed in the Chairman's report on page 3 of this booklet.