Village call for new hall

VILLAGERS in Duton Hill have declared that they need a new village hall and a range of new facilities for teenagers to cope with a growing population. The Duton Hill community association reported its findings to the Broadcast following a recent meeting w

VILLAGERS in Duton Hill have declared that they need a new village hall and a range of new facilities for teenagers to cope with a growing population.

The Duton Hill community association reported its findings to the Broadcast following a recent meeting with parish councillors.

Association spokesman, Peter Rolph, said: "Villagers presently have to go outside the village to Great or Little Easton to hire halls, or they use the Three Horseshoes pub in the village.

"We also need to provide teenagers with something to do in the village. The children could be bussed to Dunmow where they already have better equipment.

"But there is a need to provide better facilities here such as a hard multi purpose surface, with maybe a skateboard ramp and a sheltered area."

The ideas expressed were met with a lukewarm response from parish councillors, who raised concerns that costs could spiral out of control.

Mr Rolph pointed out that an estimated cost for the proposals could exceed some �20,000. But he said: "The matter for building a village hall was met with many comments, such as where could it be built, how would it be financed, and how much would the running costs be?

"So, with that in mind, if any gracious benefactors could come forward we would be extremely grateful."

The group agreed to make enquiries into whether planning permission would be granted for such ventures, and to identify a location where a village hall could potentially be built, before putting any official proposals forward.