Proposals for new Bilsthorpe village hall to go on display at community drop-in events

Proposals for a new community hub, with space for a museum and events, are set to be preseted to residents.

The designs for a brand-new village hall and community building in Bilsthorpe, are to be shared in January 2025.

The new hall, planned for the Crompton Road Park, would replace the old village hall on Cross Street, which closed four years ago due to safety concerns about the ageing building.

Two community drop-in events will take place on January 15 and 16, 2025, at Bilsthorpe Miners Welfare, from 3pm to 8pm, to allow residents to view the plans and architect’s visualisations for the proposed buildings, ask questions, and have their say on the project ahead of a planning application being submitted in Spring 2025.

Rhona Holloway, Newark and Sherwood District Council ward member for Bilsthorpe, has been at the forefront of the ambitious plans for the area.

She said: “Having a place for people of all ages to come together is crucial to social integration and good health and wellbeing, and people in Bilsthorpe have gone for too long without access to the community facilities we know they need.

“We are pleased to be able to share our proposed plans and architect’s visualisations for this brand-new, state-of-the-art community hub building, that we know would become the beating heart of our village.”

The proposals have been developed following a wider study into facilities for Bilsthorpe residents, carried out in 2023.

The planned new, modern, multi-use community hub could include a large multi-use space, second smaller room, office and storage space, and space for Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum.

It would also see improved footpaths and gates at the park site, as well as the potential for additional facilities to be developed to make maximum use of the proposals.

Claire Penny, portfolio holder for economic growth at Newark and Sherwood District Council, added: “I’m delighted that we have been able to grant £55,000 to Bilsthorpe Parish Council under the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund to assess the feasibility of this project and allow the plans to be drawn up and shown to residents in January.

“It’s incredibly important that we look at all our communities and ensure they have access to the right services and facilities and this project in Bilsthorpe will do just that.

“While funding for this project still needs applying for following planning permission, this is the first step in taking this project forward. I look forward to hearing residents’ plans for this proposed facility.”

Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund has provided financial support to enable the initial proposals to be drawn up. Bilsthorpe Parish Council hopes to apply for funding to cover construction subject to planning permission being granted.