New Stage for the Public Hall

There was good news this week from Audlem Public Hall. Cheshire East has granted a sum of £4,500 from their Community Grants Scheme (see below) towards the cost of renovating the stage. The boards on the stage are probably the original boards laid in 1904 and, for a number of years, they have been covered by a carpet because of their uneven and rough texture.

There is now a scheme to remove the old boards and replace them with new oak prime grade boards. This will provide for better stage productions and hopefully last for another hundred years. At the same time the opportunity will be taken to clear away a century's accumulated debris from beneath the stage and construct a better and more convenient storage area for the props of the Audlem 5A Drama Group and the mats of the Indoor Bowling Club.

Better facilities for 5As

Peter Webb, Chairman of the 5As said "Great news. Congratulations to the Public Hall. With a new stage and storage beneath, we can hopefully bring more productions throughout the year"

General Hall improvements

Geoff Stretch, Chairman of the Public Hall Management Committee, said that the renovation of the stage will be the first of many improvements to the Hall over the next two years. These will include insulation fitted to the ceiling of the main Hall, redecoration inside and out, and restoration of the main floor to the pristine condition of some years ago.

New Annexe for the Public Hall

Of course the biggest change proposed will be the building of an Annexe to the rear of the Hall. This will provide changing rooms and showers for sports and stage productions, a lounge and dining area for the Seniors of ADCA and facilities for Audlem's youth. This scheme has had overwhelming support from the community through the questionnaire issued in April and a grant of more than £21,000 has been promised by the Homes and Community Agency to take the project through to planning. Tenders have now been received from architects and an appointment will be made in the next few weeks.

Discussions have been held with the Big Lottery Fund for the majority of the funding for the Annexe and a formal application will be sent to them this month.

Community Grants Scheme

Details of Cheshire East's Community Grants Scheme were described on AudlemOnline here. The deadline for applications of 27th June was met with one day to spare and notification of the award of £4,500 was received on 5th August.

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