Cross Gates residents campaign to restore community hall 'sliding into disrepair'

A group of Cross Gates residents are campaigning to restore a community centre in the suburb, which they claim has been “sliding into disrepair and obscurity” in recent years.

The Garden Village Welfare Association (GVWA) community hall on Penda’s Way was opened in 1952 on land donated to the community by local homebuilder Gertrude Bray.

A large green at the back of the community hall also belongs to the property, which is currently owned by a trust.

One of the campaigners, Helen Lucy, told the YEP: “It was built by the people who live around here, pooling all the resources of the tradesmen that live locally. They built it together as a community and then it was a really successful community centre with all sorts of different activities going on there.

“There was something for everybody, and a lot of amateur dramatic shows were going on three or four times a year. Huge events were organised on the field at the back of the hall, which all belongs to the hall as well. They had May Day celebrations, and they had carnival queens and all sorts of things.

“It was very much the heart of the community.”

Together with fellow campaigners and volunteers Richard Shepherd, Ali Blenkinsopp and Rob Whale, the group is hoping to restore the hall as a community hub.

“The hall is looking very tired, and it needs a lot of work done on it, and the bookings have dwindled,” said Helen.

“There aren't many people using the hall anymore, so what we're trying to do is get the community hall back into a state that people want to use it and raise awareness of the fact that it is here.

“There's very little community space in Cross Gates, and what we're trying to do is say, ‘Look, this is an asset; if we work together, we can make this a going concern again in Cross Gates.’”

An open day and exhibition will be held at the community centre today (October 3) from 11am to 4pm, followed by a lantern parade and family entertainment at Kelmscott Green from 7pm to 9pm.

“We've got an historical exhibition running, showing people what the hall's been doing for the last 75 years and appealing to people to say, can you offer your skills to help rebuild the hall in fact, or can you help us by becoming a trustee or a member of the committee that's going to help steer it into the future,” Helen said.

“So we're really hoping to get a lot of interest when people come and have a look at what we're doing, and then in the evening we're going to celebrate the relaunch of this hall by having a lantern parade on the green at the back.”