Month: November 2017

Progress continues to be made with the Bishops Hull Hub project. We aim to submit our planning application by the end of the year and are currently in the process of putting our reports and information together. We have also submitted a planning application to retain the existing hall until it needs to be demolished to build the new facility.

To drive the project forward we are currently focusing on two main aspects;

1. Fundraising – we are looking for;

• Volunteers to organise village events
• Help with the administrative process of applying for grants
• Suggestions on sources of grants that may be available to us, especially through local connections.

2. Building a database of skilled trades people and suppliers who are prepared to offer their services at cost effective rates

The estimated target cost to complete the build is in the region of £400,000. This is based on our preferred approach of a local community build, utilising the skills, trade, contractors and suppliers available within Bishop’s Hull and immediately around. This will provide the village with a very cost effective solution.

So far, we have around £200,000 towards the project. Our thanks extend to the donations we have received so far from sources such as the Church, the parish council and other events such as the the Bishops Hull Christmas party on 2nd December, organised by John Hunt (please buy your tickets and attend if you can to help support us and other village causes!!).

Please do get in contact with us if you can help, if you have any ideas regarding fundraising or you would like to get involved. Please keep your eyes posted for events and fundraising opportunities to get involved with your new Hub.

Update in Bishops Hull News Letter October 2017:

The plans to replace the existing church hall with a community facility – The Bishops Hull Hub – are well underway as the revised drawings from the appointed architects have now been submitted to Taunton Deane Borough Council to begin consultations. The public feedback we received from the open day has helped greatly in ensuring that the facility meets the needs of the community and complements the existing resources within the village. For example, Badminton is already available in the village hall and therefore it is not necessary to replicate this in the Hub.

The main changes we have made to the original drawings shown on the open day are:

• Provision of a larger kitchen with direct access to the hall through a wider servery counter.
• Provision of baby changing facilities in larger unisex disability access toilet.
• Increase in length of hall to 15M to maximise the variety of sporting activities that can be accommodated, including soft ball tennis.
• Provision of a stairway from the entrance lobby to give access to the large loft space above the entrance foyer / kitchen and wc facilities area.
• Use of loft space to provide a first floor function room (approx 5.7M x 5.6M) with rooflight glazing.
• Provision of viewing gallery with glazed screen in first floor function room to overlook main hall.

In addition to the changes to the building the Project Architects have been instructed to investigate the possibility of lowering the car park area to provide level access to both the new hall and the church.This will maximise parking provision and enable the area to be utilised as a multi-functional space within the village for special events. It also provides the opportunity to consider the widening of the narrow footpath along the carpark frontage to provide a better and safer access to the new hall, church and bus stop.

For images or the facebook page ‘Bishops Hull Hub’.

In other news, we are pleased to be working closely with the Parish council who have written an open letter of support for our project and we hope to continue to work closely with them on the project as it progresses. We also want to extend our thanks to the members of the church who have kindly donated towards our project; this has been very gratefully received and has allowed the project the get underway and start the planning process.