Eight Ash Green Village Hall demolition work underway

The £800,000 project to transform Eight Ash Green Village Hall in Spring Lane started on August 4.

The new-look hall - used as a shelter in the Second World War - will feature a large hall, a separate meeting room, toilets, disabled access toilets, a modern kitchen, a small upstairs area which can be used by groups, and storage space in the roof.

Up until it’s closure, it was used for children’s dance classes, singing groups, yoga groups, social groups, and for parish council meetings.

The demolition is expected to take place during the next few days and the it is hoped the new hall will have a grand opening in spring 2026.

The Gazette reported in May how £481,495 from the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities Grant had been put towards the funding for the project which also included the hall’s self-raised £120,000 and developer S106 funding of £190,000.

The project has been led by the hall’s group of four trustees - Dean Nokes, Alan Bilby, Pamela Savill, Judy Alden - and a dedicated team of volunteers.

Team - (left to right) Trustees and volunteers Dean Nokes, Alan Bilby, Richard Morgan, Tina Morgan, Judy Alden, Pam Savill, and Keith Savill outside the village hall several months ago (Image: Dean Nokes) To be transformed - another image of Eight Ash Green Village Hall (Image: Eight Ash Green Village Hall) Mr Nokes said: “Work has now started on the demolition of Eight Ash Green Hall.

“Villagers are beginning to see the old building being dismantled, and we have heard lots of lovely stories about the significant events that have taken place here, with some very cherished memories made.

“With the new building, we look towards a brighter future and being able to provide the community here with a space and venue that they can create many more of those memorable times.”

Preliminary preparations have already taken place, and a specialist team removed asbestos from the building.

Eight Ash Green Village Hall - demolition works (Image: Eight Ash Green Village Hall) The new building will be fully accessible with a lift added have secure cycle storage, and it will use solar power and harvest rainwater to make an “eco-friendly, low cost to run building”.

Fenced off - Eight Ash Green Village Hall earlier this week (Image: Newsquest)

A ‘buy-a-brick campaign’ where your name will be written on a brick will be used in the creation of the new hall is still running.

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