Fundraising co-ordinator Val Jeans-Jakobbson with some of the debris caused after the collapse of part of the ceiling in Mylor's Tremayne Hall. Picture by Colin Ross

Restoration plans for hall are brought forward Ginette Harris reports

The Tremayne Hall in Mylor has had to close after part of the ceiling collapsed and organisations have had to find alternative venues.

Plans by the management committee to begin preparing for a major restoration programme at the hall have been brought forward as a result.

Committee chairman Chris Perkins said: "It's sad to have to close the hall, but the great news is that having obtained planning permission we are now able to go ahead with the mechanism of placing a building contract."

Tenders for the first phase of the £800,000 project, will be invited next month and a contractor will be selected in the New Year. It is hoped work will start in March.

The funding is in place to begin the work, thanks to a Heritage Lottery grant of £333,900 and other smaller grants. The Restoration Appeal launched by the committee has raised more than £20,000 in gifts and pledges and nearly £6,000 has been raised from local events.

The buildings will be renovated and a new wing will be created providing wide doors to a spacious lobby area, extra rooms for smaller meetings, exhibitions, educational courses and IT and a local history centre with archive facilities.

It will also allow disabled access to all areas to ensure the hall is usable by the whole community and improved toilet facilities including baby-changing areas.

"All this will create a warn, cheerful and welcoming environment for a host of different activities to take place, right in the centre of the community," said fundraising co-ordinator Val Jeans-Jakobsson.

Further funds will be needed and anyone interested in helping can pick up an Appeal leaflet from any Mylor shop. There is also a chance to sign up for the Buy a Brick scheme - with a chance to win a hamper.

A number of fundraising events are planned for the autumn and they will now be held in the Ord Statter Pavilion - the first is a barn dance with the Newlyn Reelers on September 24.

Local author Angie Sage will give a talk on October 28 and Chris Hughes will give an illustrated talk on A Dentist in the Antarctic on November 18.