Share views on use of Old Town community hall (From Swindon Advertiser)

Share views on use of Old Town community hall

9:40am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News By Matthew Edwards

A GROUP of dedicated residents is determined to make a success of a community hall.

The Savernake Street Social Hall, in Old Town, is being given a new lease of life and a group of 10 volunteers are hoping to make it a hub of the community.

The Eastcott Community group consists of residents and users of the hall, who have been meeting on a regular basis for the last six months to discuss what can be done to turn the hall around.

They have agreed to take over the management from Swindon Council and the next stage in formalising the agreement is a public meeting on Monday, at 7.30pm, in the hall, to adopt a constitution and elect a management committee.

The group is urging members of the public to attend the meeting to give their views on what the centre can be used for.

They hope to organise community arts projects and afternoon tea for elderly residents.

Resident Caroline Davies-Khan said: “We have been meeting regularly since last September and held an open day in November where people could come and give their views.

“It was a really successful open day with lots of interest and there have been a host of ideas put forward, from bingo nights and arts and crafts days. As a group we are excited by it and we can see the potential.”

King William Street pre-school is hoping to take over one of the three halls that come under the Savernake Street Social Hall name.

Pre-school manager Teresa Smith is on the committee. She said: “There is a good field to the side of the building which we are looking to turn into a community garden and allotments.

“Anybody interested in the centre should come along on Monday night and give their views.”

Coun Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) has helped with the handover from the council. He said: “The great thing about this is it has been taken over by the community and they are moving forward with the project.

“It is a great success story and exactly what we want to see, as a council, happening.”

Regular users of the hall, the Swindon Tamil Association, are also represented in the group by president Ram Thiagarajah and they are pleased to welcome more users to the hall.

He said: “What we need to do is attract more people with cost effective pricing. That way the money brought in by the users will help run the hall.”

The group will be holding a fundraising car boot sale on Sunday between 9am and noon at the hall.

Contact the group at eastcottcommunity@yahoo.co.uk or on Facebook www.facebook.com/SavernakeStreetSocialHall.