STAINDROP’S Scarth Memorial Hall has re-opened, providing an essential social lifeline to people who have not been out of their homes for months because of Covid-19.
One of the first to use the facility is a support group set up by the lunch club that used meet regularly at the hall – albeit only ten people can attend at a time.
Last week the hall opened as a polling station for the local government election and soon it will welcome back the D’ukes of Scarth ukulele group for practice ahead of their first performance at The Witham, in Barnard Castle, in August.
Ed Chicken, from the hall committee, said safety measures had been put in place, such as a one-way system of people entering at the front and leaving by the back, hand sanitiser at the entrance, and markings on the floor.
“The upstairs rooms are not being used because of the small space, and capacity has been reduced.
Mr Chicken said: “Historically the capacity was 500 which I found in the records at County Hall.
“We reckon 100 is as many as we can have, based on how quickly people can leave if there is an emergency.
“When restrictions were lifted last time, we had a live streaming and we had 30 people, which means it is not financial viable, but it was giving people somewhere to go to.”
The latest reopening is considered even more important.
Mr Chicken said: “The feedback we have had from people is that it is their hall and they want it back open.”
One of those who has appreciated a return to the hall is Phyllis Wood, who attends the support group’s weekly meetings.
She said: “It is very important to me because I haven’t been going out.
“I have been to Barney a few times, but apart from that I haven’t been anywhere. It is not that I don’t feel safe, I just lost a bit of confidence.
“The coffee mornings have been wonderful.
“We are just allowed so many so, different groups come together each week but I have been lucky because when the number is short they just call me, so I have been there every week.”
Also playing a return to the hall is the Monday cafe.
Sandra May, from the group, said: “We are going to have a meeting – we will definitely be back next month, but we haven’t finalised everything yet.
“People are really eager to get back.”
Some of the items planned for the coming months are a Dinosaur Detectives puppet theatre on June 18, Hot Club du Nord performance on August 25, Fabs playing 60s and 70s music on September 18 and an illustrated talk on pitman painter Norman Cornish on October 19.
Mr Chicken said the hall’s annual meeting will be held on June 24 at 7pm, when, hopefully, most Covid-19 restrictions will be eased.
He urged as many people as possible to attend to give their view on how the hall should develop.
