In 2022-23 the Trustees of Tarbrax Common and Village Hall Trust highlighted that Tarbrax Village Hall needed to be upgraded and we carried out a community survey with the help of Community Enterprise, to establish what level of support there was for the Hall and for its continuation. The main headlines from the survey were that:

• the vast majority of those who responded feel that the Hall is important or very important to the community
• further, we received a lot of positive feedback regarding taking various initiatives to future proof the Hall, in order to make it warmer, more comfortable and sustainable or a wide range of purposes.

Our project team has been researching a wide range of potential improvements and solutions, including visiting Crawfordjohn Village Hall – a very similar Hall, to learn about their successful improvements and the lessons learnt in their undertaking. There is still much work to do before we can finalise a full package of improvements, obtain the vital grants and complete the improvements but there is now enough clarity to give this update on our plans.

This is a large project and will be carried out in 2 (possibly 3) phases. The full package of improvements will involve:

• continuing with a radiator based primary heating system – with new more effectiveradiators throughout and a doubling of the number of radiators in the main hall
• a ‘green’ primary heating system with an oil boiler as back up and top up
• a means of quickly boosting the heating – ready for occupancy
• large arrays of solar panels on the roof of the Hall with battery storage of electricity – enough panels to ensure electricity generated over each year covers all electricity needs
• a Hive type modern control system for the heating
• a lowered insulated ceiling in the main hall
• increased internal loft type insulation above the existing ceilings
• LED lighting throughout
• We are also looking into fitting external insulation and cladding to the walls of the building, rather than re-rendering.

A first phase this year. Recognising that we have ineffective radiators in the main hall and a failing and unreliable boiler, a first phase of the improvements will be installed this year. These will be: replacement of the radiators in the main hall and adding more, the new oil boiler, a Hive control system and additional loft type insulation. The plan is for this work to be completed during the Summer.

Improvements to Tarbrax Village Hall are certainly needed, to make it warmer, more comfortable and sustainable but it is a wonderful facility now. Please make use of the Hall, with your own bookings and by supporting activities and events at the Hall.

If you would like to know more, any of the Trustees will be happy to help on that.