Tetsworth Memorial Hall is set to become even more energy efficient thanks to a grant of £46,586 from South Oxfordshire District Council.
The hall committee in Tetsworth has been working hard on their project to refurbish the venue since 2005 and the district council was impressed with the amount of work that they had already carried out to make the hall energy efficient. The new grant will go towards insultation and air source heat pumps which will help with renewable energy.
Following its declaration of a climate emergency last year the South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet approved changes to its policies to put a greater emphasis on projects by voluntary and community organisations that help reduce carbon emissions and energy use. The award to Tetsworth Memorial Hall is part of the first round of funding under the updated policy.
Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Cabinet Member for Community Services at South Oxfordshire District Council said “This is exactly the type of project we envisaged the Capital Grants Scheme supporting. Those behind the project have worked really hard to focus on the efficiency of the building and this funding will really help them to achieve their target of being carbon neutral”
“As a council we have set a target to become a carbon neutral district by 2030. We want to encourage businesses, charitable organisations and residents to help us reach that target. Hopefully this will inspire other groups to do the same”
Cllr Caroline Newton ward councillor for Tetsworth and on the council’s Climate Emergency Advisory Committee said “I’m really pleased that the hall committee has been successful in getting this funding. It is a great facility which has a wide range of uses and is run entirely by volunteers so fantastic to see their hard work rewarded and for the benefit of all the community”
In total £319,317 has been awarded to 11 different projects around the district through the Capital Grants Scheme. The grants went to:
- Cholsey Parish Council – Purpose built Happy Hub accommodation £50,000
- Berinsfield Parish Council – Provision of outdoor gymnastics equipment £10,000
- Brightwell Cum Sotwell Parish Council – Resurfacing of tennis courts and installation of new tennis practice wall £7,242
- Didcot Baptist Church – Community Hub £54,000
- Wheatley Parish Council – Improvements to Farm Close Road recreation ground £7,200
- Fish Volunteer Centre – Purchase of premises £52,500
- Wallingford Methodist Church – Replacement of boilers/upgrade of heating system £1,240
- Bix PCC – St James’s Community Hub and extension for toilet/kitchen £50,250
- Sacred Heart Preschool – Restore Charity preschool to facilitate cultural integration activities £3,099
- Henley RFC – Dry Leas Sports Ground, Community training facility upgrade - £37,200
- Tetsworth Memorial Hall – insultation, air source heat pumps, car park resurfacing, storage and audio equipment - £46,586
