Stanford Dingley community hall to be turned into home

The parish council want to convert the village clubroom into a home, and use the funds to part-fund a new village hall on land adjacent to St Denys Church.
However, objectors argued there is no guarantee the new village hall will be built, because planning permission is yet to be granted and funds are yet to be raised.
Objector to the application, Stuart Logan told the district council’s eastern area planning committee early this month: “You may be unwittingly instrumental in depriving the village of any community facilities.
“It’s a small building on a small plot, but we’re a small village.”
However, parishioner Dawn Bellin spoke in favour of the application at the meeting.
“The clubroom has been unsuitable for a very long time. It has inadequate facilities, no disabled facilities and is too small for many community events. It is best used as a residential development.
“We need to move forward to create a new meeting place for all. A hall to be proud of not embarrassed by,” she added.
Chairman of Stanford Dingley Parish Council, Michael Vaughan-Fowler allayed objectors' fears by saying that the clubroom would not be turned into a dwelling if the council failed to secure funding and planning permission for a new village hall.
The majority of district councillors supported the application to change the use of the clubroom, however the district council is currently considering the parish council’s application for a new village hall.