About The Hall

The ​Community Engagement Survey was carried out in June and the feedback has now been analysed. The following is a summary of the report and the full report is also attached.

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Every effort was made to ensure the survey was widely communicated and available within the village and users of the Village Hall, to try to ensure everyone had the opportunity to participate. In all 63 completed surveys were submitted. While we would have liked this to be higher it is not out of line with say, the level of turn-out for local and national elections.
On this basis we feel that the survey should be taken as a valid reflection of community and will be used to steer plans for the Village Hall and guide decisions in the future.
Key Outcomes;
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There was unequivocal support that action was needed to improve the hall.
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The majority of respondents were based in Harpley and had some form of existing links to hall.
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The majority showed a preference for rebuilding the hall further back on the site, to provide an energy efficient building, with improved accessibility, significantly improved kitchen facilities and providing more sports facilities.
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Externally the survey identified support for increased parking and seating to increase potential for social interaction.
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The feedback reinforced support for the village hall as an affordable central hub for all ages that contributed to building the cohesion of the community.
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Many felt it provided a space for interaction and community activities that in turn support health and wellbeing and reduction of social isolation.
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Respondents liked the Coffee Mornings, Quiz Nights, Bingo Nights, Choir and Pilates and suggested some exciting additions.
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The suggested additions will be used as the basis of considering how we could expand our offering if we can enlist organisers to support them and secure funding for any capital costs required.
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The survey also identified that additional resources could exist to support a village cinema, extend coffee times during the week and provide card/games sessions.
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The availability of potential organisers for these events these should be followed up to supplement the support available from existing committee members.

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Full Report

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Background

Harpley Village Hall has been at the heart of village life for generations — a place for meetings, activities, celebrations, and bringing people together. Now, it’s reaching a critical point, and we need the community’s help to decide what happens next.

The hall was originally built in 1936 and gifted to the village. Today, it is held as a charitable asset for the benefit of everyone in Harpley. However, time has taken its toll. The building is in very poor condition and is becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to maintain;

• Heating alone now accounts for nearly half of the Village Hall’s annual budget.

• The structure itself is too fragile to support modern insulation or renewable energy solutions. 

• The roof and windows are failing.

• There are ongoing issues with accessibility, electrics, and drainage.

A detailed professional survey has shown that small, temporary repairs are no longer a realistic or affordable option. Attempting “quick fixes” is likely to uncover even bigger and more costly problems. Continuing down this path risks draining the hall’s limited funds while still leaving us with a building that cannot meet the village’s needs.

The community now faces an important choice:

• Continue with short‑term repairs, knowing they are unlikely to last and may threaten the hall’s future

or

• Plan for the long term, either by rebuilding a new, modern village hall fit for future generations or by fully refurbishing and renovating the existing building.

The hall is entirely self‑funded and its Running Costs are met entirely through the fund-raising efforts of the small Village Hall Committee, rental from Groups that actively use the Hall and contributions from those attending events.

Any major project will require grant funding as well as local support. That’s why your views matter.

The survey has now closed and the feedback is currently being analysed before the results are published. Thank you for the feedback you have provided.

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