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bassenthwaite parish room
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Established in 1908 by Mr Hartley of Armathwaite Hall, Bassenthwaite Parish Room was over 100 years old. Long-standing residents have many nostalgic and happy memories of oversubscribed dances and other events until the mid-eighties but times change. The hall was still well-used for diverse social and recreational activities but, despite some alterations over the years - e.g. adding a kitchen and basic sanitation! - it had started to show its age. Toilets and showers, in spite of assiduous cleaning and painting, became woefully inadequate. There are new standards and regulations to meet and the community also has different requirements e.g. for disabled access and facilities.
In light of this a tender was put forwards to the Big Lottery Fund to help us create a new modern facility that would meet the requirements of the community now and well into the future.
The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for communities. Bassenthwaite Parish Room, which is a registered charity, aims to achieve this and as part of the Lottery bid, has committed to organising activities and events at the new Parish Room to meet the social, recreational and personal welfare needs of residents. In this way, it intends to ‘Build A Better Future’ for the whole community.
In light of this a tender was put forwards to the Big Lottery Fund to help us create a new modern facility that would meet the requirements of the community now and well into the future.
The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for communities. Bassenthwaite Parish Room, which is a registered charity, aims to achieve this and as part of the Lottery bid, has committed to organising activities and events at the new Parish Room to meet the social, recreational and personal welfare needs of residents. In this way, it intends to ‘Build A Better Future’ for the whole community.
The Steering Group Committee
The current Steering Group is made up of Gillian Forsyth, Keith and Linda McMillan, Sylvia Burn, Helen Reb, Ken and Heather Armstrong, Guy Lee, Pam Scott and Mary Brewis.
The current Steering Group is made up of Gillian Forsyth, Keith and Linda McMillan, Sylvia Burn, Helen Reb, Ken and Heather Armstrong, Guy Lee, Pam Scott and Mary Brewis.
The Parish Room Plans
>> Parish Room Plan 1 Ground Floor
>> Parish Room Plan 2 First Floor
>> Parish Room Plan 3 East, North & South views
>> Parish Room Plan 4 West view
The plans are also available at: www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/applicationsand decisions
>> Parish Room Plan 1 Ground Floor
>> Parish Room Plan 2 First Floor
>> Parish Room Plan 3 East, North & South views
>> Parish Room Plan 4 West view
The plans are also available at: www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/applicationsand decisions
Listed here are the companies and activities to date which show the thoroughness with which this Parish Room Project has been addressed:-
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Eco Arc - Architect/Lead Professional
Bushell Raven Ltd - Quantity Surveyor PWC, Building Control Services Ltd - Building Control Howarth Associates - Survey Works M&E Services Consultancy - M&E Engineer Consulting Civil & Structural Engineers - Structural Engineer Soil Environment Services Ltd - Ground Condition |
West Coast Surveys Ltd - Asbestos Survey
Cass and Telford Roofing Services - Slate Roof Survey Unblock Cumbria Ltd - Septic Tank/Drainage Survey Lakeland Stone Craft Builders Ltd - Stone Facing Survey Whitbeck Electrical Contractors - Electrical Survey Oglethorpe & Broatch - Solicitors Bat Survey (to be repeated prior to rebuild) |
diary of events...
Bassenthwaite Room Rebuild - near completion!
Update: 1 July 2017
We are pleased to report that rebuild works are currently on target and the estimated completion date is August 15th 2017. There will be a community open day in September / October and if anyone wants to view the works on site prior to this then please arrange with Gillian on 017687 76539.
Update: 30 Jan 2017
Demolition Derby - The Rebuild Begins
It's finally happened! The building firm Postlethwaite Construction Ltd from Longtown took possession of the Parish Room on Monday 23rd January and its all systems go for the next 28 weeks or so...
>> Read full article here
It's finally happened! The building firm Postlethwaite Construction Ltd from Longtown took possession of the Parish Room on Monday 23rd January and its all systems go for the next 28 weeks or so...
>> Read full article here
Update: September 2016
Lottery Success! £600,000 awarded for Parish Room rebuild
Everyone in the parish is absolutely delighted to learn that over £600,000 has been awarded by the Big Lottery Fund to replace the old building with a modern, welcoming, energy-efficient and accessible new Parish Room. The intention is to achieve a building not very different in external appearance to the present one but which is superbly energy-efficient and fully compliant with modern and disability requirements. This will be achieved through the adoption of a ‘Passive House’ design, using an ultra-insulated timber frame for the construction and with heating provided from an air-source heat pump. This will have the twin benefit of maintaining a constant and comfortable temperature inside the building while reducing heating costs to a minimum. Re-using the roof slates and stone facing from the existing building will help to reduce environmental impact and offer a welcome link to the original building.
This grant comes as the culmination of over 3 years work by a Steering Group which initially investigated options for simply refurbishing the Parish Room. After taking advice, it became apparent that owing to the very restricted ground plan and drainage layout, demolition and rebuild would be a better option. Work began over two years ago to apply for a grant from the Big Lottery Fund, using the strapline ‘Bassenthwaite Parish Room - Building A Better Future’. The community has been fully consulted throughout the process with a series of Open Meetings to collect comments on the proposed plans. Architects EcoArc from Kendal have used their experience with other similar village projects to help shape plans which satisfy the community’s needs in an environmentally-friendly design.
Work will start in January 2017 following acceptance of tenders.
Everyone in the parish is absolutely delighted to learn that over £600,000 has been awarded by the Big Lottery Fund to replace the old building with a modern, welcoming, energy-efficient and accessible new Parish Room. The intention is to achieve a building not very different in external appearance to the present one but which is superbly energy-efficient and fully compliant with modern and disability requirements. This will be achieved through the adoption of a ‘Passive House’ design, using an ultra-insulated timber frame for the construction and with heating provided from an air-source heat pump. This will have the twin benefit of maintaining a constant and comfortable temperature inside the building while reducing heating costs to a minimum. Re-using the roof slates and stone facing from the existing building will help to reduce environmental impact and offer a welcome link to the original building.
This grant comes as the culmination of over 3 years work by a Steering Group which initially investigated options for simply refurbishing the Parish Room. After taking advice, it became apparent that owing to the very restricted ground plan and drainage layout, demolition and rebuild would be a better option. Work began over two years ago to apply for a grant from the Big Lottery Fund, using the strapline ‘Bassenthwaite Parish Room - Building A Better Future’. The community has been fully consulted throughout the process with a series of Open Meetings to collect comments on the proposed plans. Architects EcoArc from Kendal have used their experience with other similar village projects to help shape plans which satisfy the community’s needs in an environmentally-friendly design.
Work will start in January 2017 following acceptance of tenders.
Update: April 2016
Stage 3 Lottery Application passed at Regional Level
We are now at the final hurdle, the approval of the National BIG lottery Committee. And we will know the result by the end of July at the latest. Having regional approval does not mean that the national decision is a foregone conclusion as they will be re-examining our submission from the beginning and must be sure that it is a worthwhile project for BIG lottery money. However we are very hopeful of a successful outcome that will mean so much to our Bassenthwaite community.
Stage 3 Lottery Application passed at Regional Level
We are now at the final hurdle, the approval of the National BIG lottery Committee. And we will know the result by the end of July at the latest. Having regional approval does not mean that the national decision is a foregone conclusion as they will be re-examining our submission from the beginning and must be sure that it is a worthwhile project for BIG lottery money. However we are very hopeful of a successful outcome that will mean so much to our Bassenthwaite community.
Update: 6th February 2016
Stage 3 Lottery Application submitted
The Stage 3 application for the BIG Lottery Grant has been submitted after the successful outcomes to all of the required preliminaries. We are now waiting on the outcome of our application which will be known by the end of July 2016. This is later than we originally anticipated, the reason being that as we are asking for over £500,000 the BIG Lottery National Committee will need to view our documents.
Stage 3 Lottery Application submitted
The Stage 3 application for the BIG Lottery Grant has been submitted after the successful outcomes to all of the required preliminaries. We are now waiting on the outcome of our application which will be known by the end of July 2016. This is later than we originally anticipated, the reason being that as we are asking for over £500,000 the BIG Lottery National Committee will need to view our documents.
Update: 11th January 2016
Planning Permission Granted for NEW Bassenthwaite Parish Room
At their meeting of 11th January the Lake District National Park Authority planners gave the go-ahead for the Parish Room at Bassenthwaite to be demolished and replaced with a new larger building on the same site.
The way is now clear to submit the Stage 3 application to the BIG Lottery fund to apply for the grant to enable the build to take place.
Gillian Forsyth, chair of the Parish Room Management Committee, said; “It has been a long haul and has taken a lot of hard work by our volunteers to successfully arrive at this point. We liaise closely with the BIG lottery and feel confident that we can now look forward to our stage 3 application being approved with work starting before the end of the year.”
Planning Permission Granted for NEW Bassenthwaite Parish Room
At their meeting of 11th January the Lake District National Park Authority planners gave the go-ahead for the Parish Room at Bassenthwaite to be demolished and replaced with a new larger building on the same site.
The way is now clear to submit the Stage 3 application to the BIG Lottery fund to apply for the grant to enable the build to take place.
Gillian Forsyth, chair of the Parish Room Management Committee, said; “It has been a long haul and has taken a lot of hard work by our volunteers to successfully arrive at this point. We liaise closely with the BIG lottery and feel confident that we can now look forward to our stage 3 application being approved with work starting before the end of the year.”
Update: 6th November 2015
Plans for New Parish Rooms Submitted
On 30th October 2015 plans for the new Parish Room were submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority by EcoArc, our architects. Obtaining planning permission is a key stage in allowing us to apply to the BIG lottery fund for a stage 3 grant which, if successful, will enable us to appoint a main contractor and schedule the rebuild.
Anyone who wishes to see the plans can do so on www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/applicationsanddecisions and then use the Planning Application Search Tool in order to find the actual plans.
Plans for New Parish Rooms Submitted
On 30th October 2015 plans for the new Parish Room were submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority by EcoArc, our architects. Obtaining planning permission is a key stage in allowing us to apply to the BIG lottery fund for a stage 3 grant which, if successful, will enable us to appoint a main contractor and schedule the rebuild.
Anyone who wishes to see the plans can do so on www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/applicationsanddecisions and then use the Planning Application Search Tool in order to find the actual plans.
Update: 15th October 2015
Stage 2 Lottery Grant Application Approved
Our stage 2 lottery grant application has been approved and we have been invited to make a stage 3 application. Stage 3 is the final application stage during which we develop our plans more fully, not only for the building itself but also the enhanced services which we intend to offer in a new improved hall.
Preparing the Stage 3 presentation involves a significant financial cost, most significantly with our architects for drawing up detailed plans and submitting for planning permission and with our quantity surveyors to prepare detailed costings. In addition several surveys need to be carried out concerning asbestos content, bat presence, land drainage and the condition of the septic tank. The Lottery understands that these costs are significant and have therefore offered us a “Development Grant” of £38,754 in order that we can prepare stage 3.
The Parish Room Project Steering Group has already started obtaining quotes for some of the surveys which will be required and continue to investigate the opportunities for obtaining additional grants from other sources. The lottery expect us to obtain monies from elsewhere in addition to their grant so there is still work to be done to secure such extra funding. Any donations gratefully received.
A public meeting has been arranged for 22nd October to show and discuss the proposed design before submission of final plans to the LDNPA planners, which should be before the end of October 2015.
On Thursday 22nd October there will be two sessions; one at lunch time, 1:00 pm, and one in the evening, 7:00 pm. Please make every effort to come along to one of them as the demolition and rebuild of the Parish Room will have an impact on everyone who lives in Bassenthwaite and it is important that there is strong community support for the project.
Stage 2 Lottery Grant Application Approved
Our stage 2 lottery grant application has been approved and we have been invited to make a stage 3 application. Stage 3 is the final application stage during which we develop our plans more fully, not only for the building itself but also the enhanced services which we intend to offer in a new improved hall.
Preparing the Stage 3 presentation involves a significant financial cost, most significantly with our architects for drawing up detailed plans and submitting for planning permission and with our quantity surveyors to prepare detailed costings. In addition several surveys need to be carried out concerning asbestos content, bat presence, land drainage and the condition of the septic tank. The Lottery understands that these costs are significant and have therefore offered us a “Development Grant” of £38,754 in order that we can prepare stage 3.
The Parish Room Project Steering Group has already started obtaining quotes for some of the surveys which will be required and continue to investigate the opportunities for obtaining additional grants from other sources. The lottery expect us to obtain monies from elsewhere in addition to their grant so there is still work to be done to secure such extra funding. Any donations gratefully received.
A public meeting has been arranged for 22nd October to show and discuss the proposed design before submission of final plans to the LDNPA planners, which should be before the end of October 2015.
On Thursday 22nd October there will be two sessions; one at lunch time, 1:00 pm, and one in the evening, 7:00 pm. Please make every effort to come along to one of them as the demolition and rebuild of the Parish Room will have an impact on everyone who lives in Bassenthwaite and it is important that there is strong community support for the project.
BEFORE...
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...DURING THE REBUILD...
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...AFTER!
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THANK YOU TO ALL WHO JOINED US
TO CELEBRATE
OUR REBUILD COMPLETION!
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Saturday 14th October 2017
On Saturday 14th October 2017, Bassenthwaite Parish Room celebrated the completion of the rebuild project with a Grand Opening Event. This project was supported by numerous national and local donors, including, but not limited to: the Big Lottery Fund; Cumbria Community Foundation; Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust; The Hadfield Trust; Cumbria County Council and the Garfield Weston Foundation. The Parish Room Steering Group, Trustees and the wider community are all grateful to those who donated funds to the rebuild project, and to those who committed time and effort to make the Grand Opening Event possible. Beginning at 2pm, crowds from within the parish, and further afield, gathered together in the new community facility to celebrate the hard work and perseverance of the Steering Group over the last four years. Even with inclement weather, we were delighted to record over 150 people attending throughout the event! Displays were created by current and upcoming clubs and classes, informing visitors of their happenings; we hope those who attended found these interesting and enjoy pursuing their new activities here at the Parish Room! Visitors were able to saunter through our fantastic new timber-framed building; even those who were unable to negotiate stairs were able to enjoy our first floor facilities using our new accessible lift. Within the Plant Room, our trustees explained our fantastic Passivhaus standard to visitors; this energy-efficient system vastly reduces our ecological footprint, and is integrated into the architectural design of our building, with meticulous attention to detail. The children in attendance had an opportunity to complete a Parish Room quiz sheet - taking them into all areas of the building! We would like to thank Cockermouth Ukuleles for their brilliant musical entertainment during the afternoon, the perfect accompaniment for relaxing with refreshments, cakes and tray bakes, all kindly donated from within the parish. Many in attendance were grateful to learn we have a hearing loop as part of our audio-visual system, allowing for an inclusive energetic ambience, enjoyable for all. Excited crowds returned from 7pm, eager to participate in our evening ceilidh; we thank Travelling Light Ceilidh Band for providing a fantastic night of music and dancing finishing our Grand Opening Event in style! Money was raised during the evening for Travelling Light's supported charity, the Nepal Leprosy Trust. Gordie and Lucy Oliver cheerfully served real ale, cider, spirits, wines and soft drinks from the Bassenthwaite Baaaah, which kept the dancers revived throughout the evening. We hope all who attended the event enjoyed themselves and enjoyed viewing the new Bassenthwaite Parish Room; we look forward to welcoming you back again in the future! |
Click on any photo below
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We thank all of the national and local donors who contributed to the rebuild project
BEFORE...
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...DURING THE REBUILD...
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...AFTER!
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Below are a number of organisations
which helped make the new building possible;
click on any logo to visit their website
and learn more about what they do!
which helped make the new building possible;
click on any logo to visit their website
and learn more about what they do!
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