New Village Hall for tiny fen village, Branston Booths

Around a hundred people converged on the new village hall at Branston Booths on Sunday for its formal opening by NKDC staff, Susan Ross and representatives of Wren, who sponsored the largest award. I was delighted to see it opened recently after months of work on the application. I wasn’t asked to open Branston Booths new village hall, but there is a nice picture anyway!

"Congratulations to the community and their valiant fund-raising work and management of the project: In particular, Roland Capps (one of the original committee), Deryck and Sandra Drury, Peter Lundgren, Malcolm Garwood, John and Linda Whitely and Michael Newson to name but a few. John Saywell and the Parish Council gave important support as did his successor and my County and District Councils. The whole team is to be congratulated. This is the start of something much bigger for our communities and I look forward to many happy events in this excellent facility. Bookings are available!" Quote from Cllr Mrs Marianne Overton
Independent County Councillor for Branston and Navenby District

"This small community is hosting a superb facility which will help bring vibrancy to our communities. Branston Booths is outstanding because it is a place where the £1/4m grant from WREN for the village hall makes a huge difference. The application was successful because it was well put together and included strong support from a small community and good representation of the needs.

The project started for me as County Councillor when we had a public meeting in Branston in response to a call for a speed restriction in the area, which I was able to achieve. Whilst there, we looked round and I was told how long and unsuccessful applications had been made for a new village hall. Having the experience of getting Leadenham Village Hall up and running, I agreed to work on it and encourage others. I have a good network and the County and District Councils contributed substantial resources to support the community and their valiant efforts, (£25,000 from LCC and £8,333 from NKDC) I contributed good supporting information on two key sections; the local health needs and rural deprivation from the West Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust and on the important environmental value of the area from the Wildlife Trusts. I am grateful to them and to all who joined me in writing good letters of support.

We had a lot of evening meetings huddled next to the wood stove in this spot on the fenland edge to plan and collate the information. All the committee members did painstaking work on the application forms, on door–to-door surveys and on digging out important information. I am delighted it was successful.

The opening was preceded by a lunch for all who had helped in getting the hall built and followed by a tea, grand raffle and excellent display of Branston’s heritage, put out by Mary and Dennis Creasey. The evening party event followed successfully rounding off an excellent start to what will become a vibrant and much-enjoyed hub in our communities. Very well done to the many people whose efforts have been justly rewarded. I'm proud to be part of it!