Wollaston Village Hall reopens fully after five-year closure
The Stourbridge hall has had its windows and leaking roof repaired following a £10,000 grant, allowing local groups to return.
Wollaston Village Hall has been fully restored as a community hub after a five-year closure following the Covid pandemic.
The hall, on Bridgnorth Road, Stourbridge, remained closed after Covid until a lottery grant helped it meet statutory requirements and a new board of trustees was appointed.
But after five years without maintenance, further work was needed before the hall could operate fully again.
The windows were around four metres above floor level and could not be opened, meaning there was no effective ventilation for activities including exercise classes, choir rehearsals and a theatre group.
The dressing room area also had a leaking roof, which caused water damage to the ceiling.
The trustees secured a £10,000 grant from Enovert Community Trust through the Landfill Community Fund to carry out the work.
The hall now has an automated actuator system which allows the windows to be opened safely from ground level using a switch.
The leaking roof has also been repaired and the resulting internal water damage has been fixed.
Trustee Kate Bennett said the improvements had helped the hall retain its regular users. “All of our hirers are pleased with the improvements, which will hopefully keep them using our hall for the foreseeable future.”
The hall is now regularly used by local groups and for private parties and events.
Recent activities have included valuation days, wrestling, a barn dance, and a monthly bric-a-brac fair and craft market.
The trustees are also preparing to welcome a pantomime in December, with tickets priced at £5.
Enovert Community Trust manager Angela Haymonds said the project would help keep the hall available for local residents.
The village hall is about three and a half miles from Enovert's former Himley Landfill Site, which has now closed.