AFTER losing a long battle to save its village hall, a new hall could be in the pipeline for the community of Kelly Bray, as part of a planning application for 45-50 houses.

The pre-application by Jamie Hatch of KB Products is for a mixed development of approximately 45 to 50 dwellings on land off Station Road.

The site measures approximately 3.7 acres and comprises two fields, part of the garden of Rayolyn House, owned by the applicant’s parents, together with land accommodating two existing, disused poultry sheds. One field is proposed for residential development with 30% set for affordable housing while the other field will be for public open space and the opportunity for a new village hall to be built.

Following the folding of the village’s WI, the hall — which had been used by the community as well as the WI during its 70 years of existence — was hoped to be kept by the residents for use as a village hall.

But, according to the Charity Commission, the hall should have been owned by the Cornwall Federation of the Women’s Institute after the local WI folded and be sold to use the money to further its charitable objectives. After a four year struggle by the Kelly Bray Residents’ Association fighting to keep the hall for the community, it admitted defeat earlier this year and the hall was closed.

Mr Hatch’s family has a long history with the village and the former village hall.

He said: ‘We are the oldest family currently living in Kelly Bray. My great grandparents moved to the village from Lidwell in 1920. The much publicised loss of the village hall has been disappointing for all the village, not least of all the hardworking residents’ association who have fought tirelessly to save this important community asset.

‘My great grandmother was one of the founding members of the original village hall. In 1936 Rosie Hatch, along with members of the community, set up and financed the build of village hall with the intention of providing all the ladies of the village somewhere to meet while the men were away serving their country during the war. Indeed, old papers show that my great grandmother was one of the original benefactors of the hall and donated what was a substantial sum of money in 1936, towards the build. However, this was a time when the legal recording of ownership and deeds was somewhat relaxed, when many deals and projects were agreed, concluded and honoured with a handshake.

‘My great grandmother and her fellow founding members would have never believed that one day the asset, which belonged to the village, would be lost forever.

‘Time has changed and I can assure that, if my development is successful in providing the new village hall, the Section 106 agreement will protect this valuable community asset for future generations. A village hall is a community asset, it encourages and supports social and cultural wellbeing. Rosie Hatch believed this and provided it in 1936 and I will be very proud if I am able to do the same over 80 years later.

‘In addition to the village hall, if my proposed development is successful and attracts support, I will also seek assurances that the affordable housing is firstly made available to local people.’

The proposal includes the provision of a village hall of similar size and scale to the former hall in Stoke Road, of modern construction and high quality design. Mr Hatch envisages construction of the hall himself and the leasing of the building to the town council or a trust set up to oversee the management and running of the building. The construction of the hall would be secured as part of a Section 106 agreement which would be required to secure the affordable housing and any other necessary contributions.

Susie Iannantuoni, of the Kelly Bray Residents’ Association (KBRA), said: ‘Members of the association were invited to attend a site meeting with Mr Hatch and his planner last week and I think it’s fair to say that we are all very excited about the proposal to build a new village hall. There is no getting away from the fact that housing stock needs to be replenished and if this includes affordable homes for local people then it is really hard to argue with that, unless you fully embrace the nimby principle!

‘What Mr Hatch seems to be offering is a sensitively designed development on a beautiful plot of land — something of a hidden gem as few association members even knew it existed. The addition of a new village hall would really be the icing on the cake and we have been happy to give this scheme our initial backing.

‘Mr Hatch has made it quite clear that he will be consulting closely with village residents during the various stages of planning and development, although we understand that this proposal is, in some respects, still at the “blue sky thinking” stage.

‘The beauty of being brought in so early is that we can all have some input into what we think the hall should offer and, whilst we haven’t quite chosen the curtains yet, KBRA has some very interesting ideas of its own to add to Mr Hatch’s own forward-thinking plans.

‘After the sickening blow of losing our former hall, it would seem that Kelly Bray now has something exciting to look forward to.’

The proposal is currently only a pre-application enquiry at this stage.