PLANS have been submitted to revamp a much-used community hall near a church in Dursley. 

As part of a refurbishment project, St Dominic's Church has applied to Stroud District Council for planning permission to replace windows and install a new roof at St Dominic's Hall.

The application, which was submitted on Monday, December 4, would alter the 1950s building to make the space more environmentally friendly.

According to the application, the hall's walls and roof are currently uninsulated with Crittall-style steel-framed windows which results in high heating costs and condensation.

Proposals include replacing the heating system, removing the existing asbestos sheet roof and covering the existing trusses with a corrugated steel insulated panel. 

If approved and work is carried out, it is hoped that the project will improve thermal efficiency while also ensuring that existing fabric does not degrade further.

St Dominic's Hall is located behind St Dominic's Church which is part of the Clifton Catholic Diocese which also includes St Joseph's Church in Nympsfield. 

An appeal is now underway to help raise funds for the renovation project.

A church spokesperson said in statement: "We want to provide a community hall resource for the people of Dursley and the surrounding area through which individuals and community groups of all ages and denominations will have access to a meeting space to offer educational, social and leisure opportunities.

"We also aim to ensure the long-term viability of this community resource by reducing the hall’s environmental impact by improving insulation and the use of “green technologies” and working with others to access community grants and encourage a degree of self-sustainability from income generated from its use.”

They added: "The hall was opened in 1957. It was built by volunteers from St Dominic’s Parish, who were largely members of the local Polish community, who worked under the expert supervision of Mr Noel Lee, architect and Mr P Gooch.

"The Hall was originally built to provide a venue for parish related activities such as social events, wedding receptions and school performances.

"However, as the demographic of the Parish and the surrounding community has changed so has the use of the Hall.

"The parish has resolved to 'share' the hall with the wider community against a background of growing demand.

"It is now very much a community facility, with parish use concentrated at weekends for fund raising events, Children’s Liturgy, Parish meetings and socialising after the 10.30am Mass on Sunday mornings.

"During the week the hall is used by a range of different local groups and organisations, currently these include Puppy school, Music with Mummy, FixFit, Stinchcombe Quilters, Karate, Ladies kick boxing, Tai Chi and Dance.

"The hall is also used as a polling station for all local and general elections.

"There are also opportunities for one-off bookings both during the week and at weekends, these include, talks, concerts and children’s parties or similar.”

You can donate to the project here - tinyurl.com/2d8pjkv9

You can view the application by quoting S.23/2215/FUL or see here - tinyurl.com/58etwzxp