A NEW state-of-the-art village hall is finally open at Burton Green.
Jeremy Wright MP for Kenilworth, Warwick District Council Leader Coun Andrew Day and Cheryl Wall, Chair of the Burton Green Village Hall trustees, all turned out for the opening ceremony on Friday (March 3).
And it is hoped the village hall, which has been in the pipeline since 2014, will serve the local community for decades to come.
HS2 stumped up £2million in funding for the project.
Key features of the new building – which was built by Coventry-based Deeley Construction and designed by Dave Benn and John Viner from local firm VB architects – include a main hall complete with exposed wooden beams, a professional kitchen, outdoor BBQ area, reception, and dedicated office space.
The site has been equipped with a car park complete with electric vehicle charging ports and a bicycle rack. The trustees also plan to install a water butt to conserve rainwater, which they will used to maintain the site grounds.
The building also features a series of stained-glass windows produced by local artist Vicki Aizlewood, influenced by drawings from children at Burton Green C of E Primary School. The windows depict the past, present and future of the nearby Greenway, with the final scene showing the re-established Greenway, complete with a HS2 train running underneath.
Alan Payne, Senior Project Manager at HS2 Ltd, said: “Burton Green’s Village Hall has been almost a decade in the making and highlights the importance of HS2’s continued engagement with the local community.
“In another decade’s time, the Burton Green tunnel box will be hidden underground and covered in high quality wildlife habitat, and our investment will mean that the village hall will still be around to serve as a vital community hub for local people.”
Cheryl Wall, Chair of the Burton Green Village Hall trustees, added:
“It’s just over one hundred years since the first village hall opened in Burton Green, and 40 since the current building was constructed, both of which were conceived, funded and managed by enthusiastic community-minded volunteers.
“Campaigning for and delivering a new facility that builds on and enhances that legacy has been a long and challenging journey. We are delighted with the end result and believe Burton Green’s new village hall is a first-class facility of which the whole community can be proud.”
