The Welney Website

Welney Parish Hall

page created Apr 2005, last updated Tuesday, 01 September 2009

 

The Parish Hall, often called the Village Hall, is at the junction of Main Street and Bedford Bank (East), alongside the Old Bedford River.  It has been the normal venue for Parish Council and other public meetings, and for very many social activities since 1929.

The long-term future of the Hall has been in doubt since 2005 when the Parish Council announced an ambitious plan to build a new community centre adjacent to the playing field. This would involve the Council buying the existing Parish Hall site from the Environment Agency and selling it on at an agreed profit to Elgood's Brewery. The brewery's original intention had been, we understand, to demolish the Parish Hall and the their adjacent Three Tuns Pub which closed in 2002, and build a grand new riverside pub. Once the new pub was open, Elgood's other nearby pub, the Lamb and Flag, which is suffering from subsidence, was to be demolished. The economic problems of 2008-9 seem to have put the whole scheme on hold.

The Hall is available for private hire, and is licenced for public entertainment (dancing, singing and music) for up to 99 people. The main hall is 18.3m x 5.6m (59½ft x 18½ft) including a stage, and bar area. Other facilities include a large kitchen, and a baby changing unit. The building is accessible by wheelchairs via a removable ramp, but there are no toilet facilities for wheelchair users at present. Ample off-road car parking is available on both sides of the building, but disabled users should use the parking area in front of the Hall or along the river bank to avoid the steps up from the main car park which is provided courtesy of Elgood's Brewery. 

All booking enquiries should be made to Parish Clerk, Mrs P.A.Copeman, tel 01354 610 226.

The Hall is leased from the Environment Agency by the Parish Council, who are the Hall trustees. Since 8th March 2005, the Hall has been administered directly by the Council following their decision to disband the council sub-committee (the Welney Parish Hall Management Committee) set up in May 2003. Minutes of the Management Committee meetings can be viewed here.  The Hall Licencee is the Parish Clerk, Mrs P.A.Copeman, tel 01354 610 226.

The Hall receives no subsidies or grants. The only cost to the rate-payer is the annual rent, which in 2004 was a mere £178 a year, paid by the Parish Council.

The various Committees that looked after the Hall for more than 75 years prior to the Council taking direct control in 2005 used to hold fund-raising events throughout the year, such as tub races and water galas, Christmas Fayes, lotteries and the 100-club. The only income now is from hire charges which appears to be diminishing.

A new page detailing the Hall's history, together with many previously unpublished photos is under preparation.