Ten year wait over for new village hall in Great Gonerby

After more than a decade of waiting and multiple planning applications, the residents of Great Gonerby are finally getting a new village hall.

Construction began last week on the long-awaited Memorial Hall and sports pavilion, to be built at the playing field on Belton Lane, Great Gonerby.

It replaces the current Memorial Hall and pavilion on Marratts Lane, which the parish council have been striving to replace for over 10 years.

Last week, Gusto Construction Ltd started work on the new building, to the delight of residents and parish councillors.

Chairman of Great Gonerby Parish Council, Blake Hutchinson, said: “The parish council are very pleased to see work finally beginning on the long-awaited new hall.

“It has brought together many parties who have worked together in a constructive way to make it happen. It has been a long journey, but all involved look forward to this exciting new facility opening.”

The build is a joint project between Great Gonerby Parish Council, the Memorial Hall committee and Gusto Construction.

The new building will incorporate a main hall, meeting room and pavilion. The parish council say that while the former Memorial Hall and pavilion served the community well, both were ‘in dire need’ of replacement.

The lengthy process has seen several planning applications submitted to South Kesteven District Council over the years, as the parish council looked to secure funds for the new village hall by building homes at the old site.

Plans for the demolition of the old hall and construction of bungalows have now been approved, and will commence once the new premises are finished.

This is due to an agreement as part of the approved plans, which state demolition cannot take place until the new hall and facilities are certified as complete, and available for use by the community.

Great Gonerby Parish Council also added their thanks to Gusto Construction for allowing both of the old buildings to remain in use until the new build is completed.

The parish council say the new Memorial Hall should be up and running for the New Year, giving Sunshine Playgroup and the many other users of the current hall and pavilion a new home.

The new hall will be administered by the Memorial Hall Committee, who will also be looking for new members on completion of the build.