The past couple of years have been less than easy for most of us, but as we emerge into the future a number of projects are bubbling to the surface, literally and metaphorically;
When we asked residents for their suggestions a couple were top of the lists;
Cinema – we have purchase 80% of the equipment needed and hope to have this up and running for Autumn and Winter evenings.
Indoor sports – we were asked about Table tennis and the committee is happy to look at purchasing one of these fold-up/stow away tables but we need to gauge the possible use before committing funds, and also to find someone to look after this ‘budding’ club.
Basketball – the equipment we purchased last year have been ‘in the wars’ a tad, with the wind blowing them over and damaging the rings. We are seeking a solution, but please take care when they are fixed as we cannot afford further damage and possible injury.
The Mums and Toddler play area – we have received two very similar quotes and hope to start on the ground work over the summer – watch that space. On the subject of M&T Group they are lookingfor volunteers to help run it – can you, are you willing to help, please get in touch.
Contact either Graham Harrison (07425 775679), myself (Frank Tunney 07860 917446) or Margaret Bowers (01829 732349) if you are willing to help on any of the above.
Attendance -UVHMC: Margaret Bowers, Kathryn Dahill, Richard Francis, Judith J Grant, Liz Hannath, Graham Harrison, Laura Jones, Karen Murray, Graham Stewart, Francis Tunney
20+ residents many of whom commented on what they would like to see ‘outside the hall’. This meeting was to explore what residents wished to see.
The first part of the meeting would be gathering information and views from residents.
Before the meeting commenced FT welcomed Judith Grant as a co-opted member of the committee.
NB: these notes are not verbatim minutes, but the best recollection of what was suggested and discussed by residents and the Hall Committee.
The village need play areas across the age range
There is nowhere for kids to go, so we need to think for the future
The surfacing on the court was poor
Background in education 16 – 25s
Asks what is the priority?
Should we approach the Diocese about the school playing field
Can we approach Ardern Trust about the land adjacent to the Hall?
Could we do both above?
The Community need to support the hall and its events
This meeting is about information gathering
Identify people in the group
We recognise that the court has restricted access
We are not experiencing any delinquency but there is a litter issue on the court
Should we charge or make use of the court free to all?
The school is suffering for a lower roll, and we need to get new people to the village
Older kids have nowhere to go
Look to the future to cater for a wider age range
How often does tennis get played?
Hold events that generate revenue
Creating pride in and use of the Hall et al
Do we have a budget (for change?)
Wanted to be able to have an area outside to ensure kids can play
The new locked gate was good
Group of 10 teenagers play footie and basketball.
Could we have a moveable tennis net?
Can we get portable play equipment?
Court not big enough for competitive tennis
Worried about vandalism
Is restrictive membership an issue?
The Car Parking isn’t good enough and the roads are difficult
Resident has 4- and 6-Year-old and there is very little to do
Could the hall have some picnic benches to allow socialising?
Husband plays basketball but didn’t know how to access the court.
We need to fund the hall and any developments through events
Would a half a court be big enough to play basketball on?
Detriment in not having play/recreational equipment
Was asked how big the strip of land behind the hall is – in visual terms it is roughly as long as the hall (17m) and half as wide (4.2m)
It (the grass strip) would need some work to level and make it safe
The court needs Resurfacing
The court is very underutilised
Make the multisport court more attractive
Good approach (not sure what was meant here)
Get people along to events.
Don’t look at the MSC in isolation
Survey results – are they representative?
Very few mentions of tennis
Open the court for more sports
Develop the grass strip for childrens’ play area
Over the years, I have been asked the same question many times … “Why hasn’t Utkinton got a childrens’ playground?”
We have always needed a safe place for children to play, regardless of age, gender or ability.
The simple answer is that we haven’t had anywhere to put a playground. We only have the multi sports court which consists of twelve tennis playing families including a few teenage boys who prefer to play basketball.
Is it time to address this problem and make changes?
For example…. the court could be split into different sections.
One area could be used as a playground with swings, a climbing frame etc.
Another area could be used for ball sports e.g. basketball, short tennis etc.
If planned carefully, we should be able to have an area for outdoor activities e.g. WI plant sale etc. …you could even find room for a gazebo or two!
The fire exit opens onto the grassed area. This would be an ideal place for our toddler group to play. They could have their own equipment e.g. swing, sand pit, bouncy toy etc.? The new fence and gate at the rear of the hall would ensure their safety.
This could be our ONLY opportunity to provide the village with a much-needed sports and leisure facility.
Talked about fund raising and the need to satisfy the needs of the community
Explained about the previous attempt to utilise the school playing field and how it was turned down by the Diocese – perhaps it was time to try again
A lot of sense and we do need to make some changes
Agree with much of what was said but we need to do something
About fund raising, mentioned the quiz night on 30th April and the Centenary of the Hall, also the afternoon tea and that all are welcome
Chair’s summary – this was a very well attended meeting and a number of potential actions came from it.
Remove the fixed net and allow for full use of the court for: Basketball, Netball, Football and general ‘play’ as an open space. ‘Mothball’ the current tennis net – We will ‘open up’ the court and remove the fixed tennis net (into safe keeping) and provide the ‘platform’ for basketball, netball, and football.
For this season remove the need to be ‘paid up’ members
If there is a need/demand for tennis, then we could consider purchasing a portable tennis net (£400 – £850).
Establish a plan to create a play area on the grass strip, identify specific needs and review funding options
Discuss the possibility of the land immediately north between the hall and the United Utilities ‘road
The following will be deferred to the Parish Council;
Discuss the possibilities for Rose Farm / Donkey Field
Reopen the discussion with Diocese the possibility of using the school playing field
This survey was taken to establish the types of activity that residents of the Village might like to see taking place. It was an indication of the areas that the Management committee might wish to explore further.
The survey is published in full below:
REVIEW OF RESULTS FROM UVH ONLINE SURVEY, NOVEMBER 2021.
Executive Summary
The survey was run between mid-October and mid-November and was, initially, circulated on paper and around 12% of the results emanate from there. Overall, 84 questionnaires were returned by 15th November and the results are analysed later in this paper.
In terms of the demographics of the responses the results are in line with the Census Data from 2011 and so the survey has a degree of ‘truth’ in terms of the results;
Census 2011
Survey 2021
Number
Share
Number
Share
0 – 4
35
5.0%
2
2.4%
5 to 10
45
6.4%
5
6.0%
11 – 18
66
9.3%
9
10.7%
19 – 39
108
15.3%
15
17.9%
40 – 65
312
44.2%
30
35.7%
66 – 100
140
19.8%
19
22.6%
No age
4
4.8%
706
84
11.9%
But, overall an 11% response rate is believed to be reasonable.
Activity Breakdown:
There were 44 activities listed on the expanded survey form and they split, broadly, into a number of groups The number of ‘votes registered is shown below for each major activity grouping ;
Activity Group
Sum of Individual Score
Social
141
Sport – Indoor
117
Drink
103
Youth Groups
74
Retail
72
Entertainment
71
Sport – Outdoor
67
Food & Drink
64
Craft
62
Children
38
Outdoor
19
Grand Total
828
Looking at each of the individual activities there are some clear high scores (this table is shown in descending order of votes for each;
Individual Score
Activity
Group
48
Cinema
Entertainment
38
Beer festival
Drink
37
Bar
Drink
37
Markets
Retail
35
Local Makers’ Christmas Fair
Retail
33
Cheese & Wine
Food & Drink
31
BBQ
Food & Drink
28
Wine tasting
Drink
27
Table tennis
Sport – Indoor
27
Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts
Youth Groups
26
Crafts
Craft
23
Bingo
Social
23
Pool / snooker
Sport – Indoor
22
Santa’s Grotto
Children
22
Quiz Night(s)
Social
22
Basketball (add another hoop
Sport – Outdoor
22
Indoor or outdoor football
Sport – Outdoor
21
Art Classes
Craft
20
Casino / Race Night
Social
19
Walking Group
Outdoor
16
Playgroup
Children
16
Table football
Sport – Indoor
16
Youth group (11 – 16)
Youth Groups
15
Gardening Group / Flower arranging
Craft
15
Cards and Board Games
Social
15
Boxing
Sport – Indoor
14
Amateur Dramatics
Entertainment
14
Indoor, short mat bowls
Sport – Indoor
13
Cricket (on multi-sport court)
Sport – Outdoor
12
Chess / Draughts
Social
12
U3A for Utkinton and Cotebrook
Social
12
Badminton
Sport – Indoor
12
Duke of Edinburgh Awards Group
Youth Groups
11
Youth group 16 – 19
Youth Groups
10
Netball
Sport – Outdoor
9
People’s Choir
Entertainment
9
Nosh and Natter’
Social
8
Tea Dances
Social
8
Homework Club (may need devices)
Youth Groups
7
Social event planning group
Social
7
Swaps Night
Social
6
Bridge club
Social
6
Darts League
Sport – Indoor
4
Judo
Sport – Indoor
Thus on single activity ‘Cinema’ is a clear winner whereas by group it is Social, and then Indoor sports.
Where should the UVHMC focus lie?
Some activities may require investment in equipment, others will require people to manage them but what can be deduced is that there is a desire for activities based around the Hall. A small number of people queried why ‘tennis’ wasn’t on the list and they might well be right. However, we have promoted the multi-sport court in all its guises for a number of years and the numbers participating has never changed substantially, so, perhaps, the time is right to review how we use the court area.
So, this report doesn’t give us any solutions, but it does help us to ponder.
2022 will see the Hall enter its 100th year (the foundation stone is dated 1922 and yet the Indentures are dated 1923) we need to be certain that it is equipped to last another.
On the basis of the above, I alone cannot decide the future of the Hall that has to be a collective decision of this committee and the Trustees – its over to you now.
Meeting of Utkinton Village Hall Management Committee,
Utkinton Village Hall, Thursday 17th March 2022, from 7:30pm
Interested residents are welcome.
Preamble:
Following the recent UVH AGM (held on 17th February 2022) at which it was agreed to review the multisport court, Kathryn Dahill has requested a separate meeting be held to explore the options.
The Village Hall Management Committee would welcome ideas from the Utkinton Community on how to make best use of the outdoor multisport area. For example, what improvements or additions could be made so that this area better suits your family’s needs?
If you wish to attend please let us know so we can put out sufficient seating.
Agenda:
Item
Responsible
Note those present and receive apologies for absence.
Chair
To receive comments from residents of the village attending
Residents
To discuss any documents in relation to the future of the Multisport court to the rear of Utkinton Village Hall
KD GWBS GH FT
To discuss and take proposals for further action vis-à-vis 2.0 above
Utkinton Village Hall Committee – AGM February 17th 2022
Utkinton Village Hall, 19:30
The recent announcements vis-à-vis Covid regulations suggested that we relax some of the precautions, however, the hall will be laid out in a socially distant and safe manner and we would ask that you enter via the front door, use the sanitiser provided and if you wear one keep your own mask on until seated. You can remove your mask once seated.
The hot water urn will be available as will tea, coffee and milk. All we would ask is that you observe distancing and exit via the fire exit.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Agenda:
Welcome and apologies Chair
Chair’s Report Francis Tunney
Treasurer’s report – Incl. Finance and Accounts for 2021/22 Graham Harrison
Election of Chair and Treasurer for coming 12 months All
Reports from groups:
WI Liz Hannath
Trustee and Committee Structure Margaret Bowers
Tennis Club Kath Dahill
Members’ Club Richard Francis
Items for discussion All
The Centenary
Utkinton and Cotebrook PC Jubilee
Cinema club
Maintenance
The hall user survey If you have anything else that you would wish to add or discuss, please let me know and I will add them.
For many months we have had a quiet master of his art teaching others an age old way of martial arts – Glyn Roberts of Budo Ka Red Dragon SKA holds a class once a week at Utkinton Village Hall. Its almost a homecoming for Glyn having lived in the village, attended Utkinton St Pauls and having a great deal to do with the ‘Reading Room’ and the am dram in the Hall itself.
So, we felt his classes deserved to showcased and here’s how you can get in touch and, maybe, just maybe get a family session all to yourselves. His web page link is here: http://www.fighttofitness.co.uk/
Our hall reaches the venerable age of 100 next year and we aim to celebrate that in style.
Originally donated by CAPTAIN THE HONOURABLE HENRY ROBERT BAILEE-HAMILTON-ARDEN of Arderne Hall, Eaton near Tarporley THE REVEREND CANON WALTER OCTAVIUS MARSH HUGHES of the Rectory Tarporley and REBECCA TOWNSHEND PRESTWICH wife of Richard Henry Prestwich of Tirley Garth, Willington , the Hall was a wooden structure and was gifted to Utkinton Women’s Institute in April 1922.
It stood in a relatively small plot adjacent to the ‘Reading Room’ and a small grass plot that subsequently became a grass Tennis Court (which is where our multi-sport court stands today). Over the years it has been renovated and updated and, if we can find any, we will publish some old photos.
Overall the space available for inside activities at Utkinton Village Hall equates to 145.53 sq m (1570 sq ft). From the diagram it can be seen that the hall has three (discrete) loos, one with baby-changing facilities and all with sinks and hot/cold water.
The kitchen has adequate cupboard and worktop space (with more than enough crockery, cuttlery and glasswares and its facilities include:
Gas hot-water boiler
Refrigerator
Oven and hob
Microwave
Electric sink water heater
Electric tea urn and kettle
First aid box and fire extinguisher
Cleaning equipment is stored in the ‘gents’ loo
SF Fibre Broad
It has three, gas-fired, space heaters
Overall there are c.70 stackable chairs, 8×1.8m tables, 3x 1m tables and two smaller tables.
The floor was completely refurbished using engineered / laminated oak in 1999/2000
Utkinton Village Hall 