By Paul Crute

Last updated at 09:18, Thursday, 24 January 2013

Villagers have been given £30,000 as part of the Olympic legacy to help revamp their community hall.

The £620,000 project to refurbish Threlkeld Village Hall was given the cash from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund. It was granted £430,000 from the Lottery in November.

The cash will help develop the hall, which is more then 100 years old, as the base for sports and keep fit activities like indoor bowls, exercise classes, dancing, judo and running.

Work has been able to start thanks to other grants and £50,000 raised by the community.

Katie Airey, who lives at Threlkeld Quarry, helped put the funding application together. She also runs dance and fitness classes.

She said: “This is a real boost to facilities in a rural area like Threlkeld, but the revitalised hall will be an attractive venue for this whole area.

“It will play a vital role in getting people of all ages involved in sport and physical activity in a convenient, informal and flexible way.”

Improvements to the hall include an extension, which will house a community coffee shop, refurbishment of the main hall with full insulation, triple glazing and new floors, a new entrance area and new toilets. Heating will be provided by solar panels and a heating pump, and there will be wheelchair access.

The traditional appearance of the front of the building will be kept. It is hoped work can be completed by early 2014.

The inspired Facilities Fund is part of the £135m Places People Play legacy programme.

As one of the facilities to receive the funding, the village hall will carry the London 2012 Inspire Mark.

First published at 09:15, Thursday, 24 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk