History repeats itself after Tarmac donation funds new village hall

The original Langar cum Barnstone village hall was built in 1922 and funded by people working for The Barnstone Blue Lias Lime and Cement Co. (now Tarmac).

Exactly 100 years later, the local parish council and the Community Hall Charity Trust were looking to replace the building, and once again sought the support from their local site, this time through the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund. Work started on its replacement in early 2023, and the new building was completed on 1 December last year.

The new Langar cum Barnstone Community Hall was officially opened at a ceremony on Saturday 24 February. In recognition of the support from Tarmac, plant manager Steve Odell was invited to unveil the plaque in the new building.

The new community hall can accommodate up to 200 people standing and 96 people seated. It has a large modern fitted galley kitchen with everything needed for community events, as well as a meeting room, clerk’s office and accessible toilets with baby-changing facilities.

The hall has already hosted a Christmas quiz and an 80s night – both sell-out events – and community groups like the Brownies, Belvoir Archers, Vale Market Café and Vale Arts Group have been excited to move back into the facility. Since December, new users have established themselves at the hall, including a regular yoga class and a singing group.

Jeff Fry, chairman of the Community Hall Charity Trust commented: “The old hall was built in 1922 by the employees of The Barnstone Blue Lias Lime and Cement Co. (now Tarmac). Thanks to the generous funding allocation from Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund, this local business, which is integral to the community, has once again helped ensure residents have a safe and welcoming space to come together.

“We are thrilled that Steve Odell from Tarmac could officially open the hall to a new generation of users, who we hope will benefit from this fabulous community asset for another 100 years to come!”

Steve Odell, plant manager at Tarmac’s Barnstone site, said: “I was honoured to have been invited to unveil the plaque at the new Langar cum Barnstone Community Hall.

“Tarmac and the hall have such a shared history in this community and the new facilities are incredible. I’m proud that we were able to support the rebuilding of the hall through the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund and to continue this tradition over a century later.”

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Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/04032024/history-repeats-itself-after-tarmac-donation-funds-new-village-hall/