COUNTY councillors for the Gaunless Valley have launched a campaign to upgrade village halls to help people in the event of massive power outages.
Butterknowle Village Hall proved to be a lifeline for many people after Storm Arwen last year when resident Tommy Lowther arranged for a generator to make hot meals and provide shelter for people. Some homes were without power for more than a week.
Now county councillors Robert Potts and James Cosslett are using their neighbourhood budgets to upgrade other community venues.
Cllr Cosslett said: “One of the great things to come out of Storm Arwen is that people suddenly realised how important village halls are.”
Woodland Village Hall has already benefitted from their scheme and earlier this month they met Copley Village Hall committee members.
Teesdale MP Dehenna Davison also attended the meeting.
The hall committee described how they need cash to refurbish the electrics and to have remedial work done. They also need new tables.
Committee member Ken Cook said: “The thing about the village hall is that it is the only thing in Copley – there is no pub anymore and we have no community centre apart from this. What we are trying to do is build it up and introduce it to people who can quite cheaply hire it.
“What has been done is fantastic, it has been redecorated and it looks lovely. It is really coming alive, but we need money.”
Explaining his ambition, Cllr Potts said: “Our priority right now is to get the village halls up to spec. We do have a small pot ourselves [as county councillors] but we do also have Teesdale Action Partnership (TAP). I am determined that all that TAP money
doesn’t only go to Barnard Castle and Middleton-in-Teesdale and other places – we want some of it to come here.”
Ms Davison added: “For the many rural villages across the Bishop Auckland constituencies, village halls are the hub where community happens. Whether they hold functions or fetes, lunch groups or local bands, these buildings are more than bricks and mortar for many. Never was that clearer than last year, when halls across Teesdale offered a lifeline for those without electricity or heating in their homes. I am immensely proud of the community spirit displayed during Storm Arwen, and I am pleased to support the work of our councillors to ensure that these halls are kept lit, warm and operational during any future storms.”
