Dove Holes village hall thriving after revamp funded by Tarmac grant

Thanks to a major grant from Tarmac and the national Landfill Communities Fund, the hall has been redecorated, new sofas and coffee tables have been installed and the kitchen and toilets have had a revamp.

Simon Youd, of the Dove Holes Community Association, said: “We were delighted to receive this major grant from Tarmac.

“It has enabled us to transform our village hall into a real community hub – a facility which is more attractive and welcoming, which will enable us to move forward generating further income and securing facilities for future generations.”

The refurbishments have already paid dividends as the association has taken numerous bookings for parties and even a wedding at the venue on Hallsteads.

Simon said: “Our village used to have two pubs. It now only has one which is not open all the time.

“Our aim is to make the hall a versatile and vibrant community venue which is booked up with a range of events from artists’ club, multiple sclerosis yoga, line dancing, ballroom dancing and a youth club.”

The Landfill Communities Fund enables landfill operators like Tarmac to donate part of their annual tax liability to enrolled environmental bodies for a variety of approved community and environmental projects.

Tarmac donates around £1million each year through the fund to community projects throughout the UK .

Reg Gartside, an engineering services manager at Tarmac’s Tunstead site, visited the village hall to see the work for himself.

He said: “We are very pleased that this fantastic local scheme was awarded a grant from the company’s national Landfill Communities Fund.

“The money has been put to very good practical use making the hall a much more inviting and comfortable venue – I am sure it will now be extremely popular with villagers of all ages.”

The Landfill Communities Fund is open to applicants who meet the strict criteria for projects delivering community benefit.

For more information, go to www.entrust.org.uk.