The Development Project

Development Project Mission Statement:

• To ensure the security of the premisis.
• To provide an improved facility for the benefit of the local community.
• To provide improved facilities for Haxby Town Council.
• To explore the possibility of accomodating Haxby Library.
• To ensure the long-term financial viability of the Hall.

Background to the Development Project:

The results of a questionnaire survey to every household in Haxby in 2000 showed that 52.3% of respondents voted to extend the existing Hall, 17.2% wanted to replace the Hall on the existing site, 16.5% wanted a new building on an alternative site and 14% wanted to retain the Hall as it is.

The present Trustees are developing plans for the most favoured option (extend the existing Hall) by building on the valuable work done by earlier Trustees. The option to replace the Hall on the existing site has already been prepared by our immediate predecessors. It is planned to present the final range of options to the public for consultation as soon as possible.

What's Happening Now?

In August 2005, the majority of the Hall's Trustees resigned en bloc. The remaining members set about appointing new Trusees and by October 2005 the Board was finally functioning once again. The first task of the new Board was to return the Hall to financial viablity.

The former board of Trustees completed site surveys, feasibility studies, public displays and consultation with local residents regarding the Huf Haus option.

We the new Board of Trustees, and are now working towards investigating the remaining options, which will include restoring and extending the current building.

None of these decisions however will be made until further surveys are undertaken to establish the facilities required within the community, and finally a survey to decide which option the community prefers.

Because of the uncertainty of the Hall's future, hiring charges have not been increased for several years and some users have moved to other premisis where their continued accomodation was more secure. At times of rapidly increasing maintenance and utility costs, these two factors have had a severely adverse effect on income. To reverse the trend, hiring charges are to increase to reflect the true market value of the facilities more users are being attracted and fund raising events held.

Work to date - New Victorian style iron gates have been erected to the front of the hall and new wooden gates at the back. In addition, the Hall has been redecorated free with the help of a grant from B&Q, York University and private donations. Labour for decorating the main Hall rooms has been done free by the North Yorkshire Probation Service Payback Scheme, who have also cleared the grounds of rubble and vegetation. This work is ongoing. ,

New Projects - The Trust is now preparing to work on a project to restore the garden area around the willow tree to the rear of the site.

Land Purchase - The Trust has purchased a piece of land to the west side of the site at the rear of the shops. Work on clearing this land and securing its boundaries will begin as soon as possible.

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