Warsash's Victory Hall set for £200k refurbishment

Warsash’s Victory Hall will have work on its roof and a new air conditioning system after receiving £148,000 and £40,000 from Hampshire County Council and Fareham Borough Council respectively.

The hall’s trustees will provide an extra £12,000 for the project, which brings an end to a turbulent time.

Last year, trustees were weighing up the option of knocking it down to be used for housing or to building a new one.

The hall, a ‘community hub’ used by a variety of groups, was built back in 1975 to last for about 30 years and is in now in ‘a poor condition’.

Mike Ford, Fareham borough councillor for Warsash, who sits on the hall’s management committee said: ‘It’s excellent news that we’re finally going to be able to bring Victory Hall back into shape.

‘Only last year we were thinking of selling it or bringing it down for housing but we always thought that we wanted to keep it on.

‘It’s such a massive part of the Warsash community and is completely full nearly everyday, so these funds are greatly welcomed.

‘We knew that serious funds would be needed to get it out of its poor condition.

‘We’ve got great plans for the hall and these improvements should help us out to no end.’

His fellow councillor for Warsash, Trevor Cartwright added: ‘Victory Hall really is the perfect community hub and I really hope the sooner we can get on with the works the better for Warsash.

‘Talks about fixing the roof and sorting out the hall’s energy system have been going on for 18 months.

‘The hall provides a tremendous place for the community to carry out their various activities so we had to step in and keep it running.’

The borough council’s executive leader Sean Woodward revealed that the £200k figure had been secured at a Community Action Team meeting.

He added: ‘Work has been needed on the hall for quite some time so I’m pleased that we’ve got the funds in place.

Work on the hall is expected to start in September.