In the 1930s, Councillors and Parishioners created a hall that served our community for nearly 90 years until it was condemned as structurally unsafe in 2017. Poundstock Parish residents have had to rely on properties owned by others, and there is presently no space that can be called our Community Hall.
As part of an ongoing dialogue with parishioners on this subject, Poundstock Parish Councillors agreed to ask residents to answer three key questions related to the idea of a community hall:
1. What does the idea of a community hall mean to you?
2. Who could benefit from a community hall?
3. What sort of activities could you imagine happening in, or connected to, a community hall?
During the summer of 2022, a team of Councillors canvassed the entire parish: knocking on doors and putting question cards through letterboxes. The Parish Council also liaised with Poundstock’s Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) steering group so that the three questions were included in the Parish’s NDP Survey, which allowed for more responses to be gathered both electronically and also through questionnaires. This resulted in nearly 200 responses being recorded.
Parish Councillors then compiled a document, that is attached below, which we hope serves as a snapshot of parishioners’ attitudes towards the idea of a Community Hall at this time.
On Saturday 26th November, 2022, one of our Councillors gave a presentation as part of the wider NDP presentation concerning and we also attach below a PDF version of the accompanying powerpoint.
This dialogue, and subsequent consultation with parishioners, will serve to inform Poundstock Parish Council’s actions towards establishing a replacement hall for our Community.
The Old Parish Hall site was sold at auction for redevelopment in August 2023 as its location and plot size no longer met Parish needs and all the funds will now go towards a new Community Hall for Poundstock.
In October 2023, Cornwall Council Planning considered a Pre-Application for the construction of a new Community Hall on a three acre site near the centre of Poundstock Parish and agreed in principle subject to a full Planning Application being submitted.
The next stage will be to instruct Architects to, initially, prepare design concepts to present to the Parish for feedback. Once a design has been selected this will then be made up to full plans so that an Outline Planning Application may be made to Cornwall Council.
Parallel to this, PPC is exploring the availability of grants specifically to help with the costs of bringing to fruition a new hall for Poundstock.
A New Hall for Poundstock
Poundstock Parish Council has revealed the three provisional designs for a potential new community hall. The concept designs reflect differing needs with each one being larger and offering greater capacity and more services reflecting a range of possible uses and activities such as community group meetings, fairs, small exhibitions, weddings, business events, social events etc.
The new designs by Truro architects Laurence Associates, funded by a grant from Cornwall Council’s Community Capacity Fund, create a light and airy space that takes advantage of the views while maintaining a low profile that blends in with the local landscape.
There will now be a consultation period with the parish where the designs will be widely publicised and a public meeting is planned for early September where residents will be able to study detailed plans and ask questions regarding the proposals.
The Parish Council can only facilitate the wishes of the Parish, not make arbitrary decisions. What this means in practice is that residents will be asked which of the three designs they prefer or even if they want a new parish hall.
Local residents will find full details of the concept designs by clicking the Full Details button below the picture and are encouraged to email clerk@poundstock-pc.gov.uk or write to Poundstock Parish Council, Trevoulter Barton, Poundstock, Bude EX23 0DH with any comments or questions.
