WHAT is happening at Lickey Parish Hall?

Lickey Parish Hall is to undergo a major facelift. The hall is in constant use with over 25 different organisations using its facilities. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of Holy Trinity, Lickey and St Catherine's, Blackwell who operate the hall are committed to improving the hall facilities for the benefit of all the local community.

WHY is the work needed?

Originally built in 1936 and with additional kitchen and meeting room facilities being added during the 1980s, Lickey Parish Hall is now being brought up to date to meet its current diverse usage and to ensure compliance with current health and safety and disability requirements, as well as to improve its general appeal.

WHERE will the alterations be?

A new welcoming and attractive entrance hall and foyer is being constructed. The old outdated toilets are being replaced by modem hygienic facilities with adaptations for people with disabilities. There will be a new storeroom so that chairs and other equipment currently kept in the hall can be safety put away. The church office is being relocated from Barnt Green to bespoke office accommodation in the hall to provide essential secretarial support for both for the parish hall, Holy Trinity and St Catherine's churches, and potentially other user organisations too. There will also be a new ramped access outside the main hall entrance. To the side an environmentally friendly recreation area for children and adults is being developed in partnership with Kayz Days After School Club.

WHEN will the works happen?

Work on the recreation area has already started and will be completed during the spring. Plans for the building work have already been approved and the construction phase will commence during April 2008. The new facilities will take about 16 weeks to complete. It is hoped that it will be possible to continue using the kitchen and meeting room in the hall throughout. Every effort will be made to minimise disruption but temporary toilet facilities will need to be brought in while the exiting lavatories are closed. Only very limited car parking will be available in front of the hall while the building work is ongoing.

WHO is funding the improvements?

The PCC recognise that it is in a unique position to encourage a dimension of Christian community within the parish. The PCC has accepted the principle that money raised from the community through usage of the hall should be given back to the community. In addition by investing up to £170,000 in the cost of new building and improvements to Lickey Parish Hall the PCC is making a bold and committed statement to the local community. The PCC is meeting most of the cost of the development. It is being supported by local residents, businesses and Lickey and Blackwell Parish Council who have made donations towards the overall cost of the project. The largest grants were obtained from Veolia Environmental Trust (£31,996) and Severn Waste Environmental Fund (£20,000).

HOW were the improvements designed and who is building them?

The PCC have surveyed and listened to the needs of the local community and current hall users. Jane Banner, a horticulturist and local resident designed the outdoors garden recreation area. It is being built by professionals, volunteers from within the PCC and local community and with the assistance of community workers from Redditch Probation Service. Our architect, Philip Duckworth, who has worked with the PCC for many years, has designed the new hall extension. A local builder, Richard Tolley, has been appointed to carry out the construction work. During the 16 weeks that the building modifications are being undertaken there will be temporary difficulties for hall users. Patience and care will be required by all. Users of Lickey Parish Hall are asked not to undermine safety by entering into the curtilage of clearly defined construction areas; by restricting the daytime use of the parish hall car park for the purposes of dropping off and picking up only, and by leaving the remaining available parking spaces available for disabled hall users. Remember that emergency service vehicles may need access to the hall at very short notice. Illegitimate parking may impede safety. The main entrance to the hall will be closed throughout the building phase. Only the meeting room entrance will be open for use by the general public.

CAN you help?

Many have already given to the building fund. If you have not already done so, please consider making a donation. It is a very worthy local cause. Donations should be sent to Lickey Parish Office, Barnt Green Parish Centre, Sandhills Road, Barnt Green, B45 8NR. Cheques made payable to 'Lickey PCC - Building The Way'.

WANT to know more?

If there are further questions about the Lickey Parish Hall development you would like to know the answer to, contact the church secretary Sandra Smith on 0121 445 1425 or Richard Mayhew, chair of the hall action team, on 0121 445 5559.

For all other facilities information click here.

This is a temporary page and will be updated when

Lickey Parish Hall is completed.