THE VILLAGE of Davidstow could soon have a community centre after 15 years without a village hall (PA21/02667/PREAPP).

The former village hall on Blacka Lane, which is close to the proposed site, closed 15 years ago and is now privately owned. Since then there has been no suitable community facility to hold events despite the efforts of the Davidstow Village Hall charity to find an alternative site.

Cornwall Council has now been asked for pre-application advice for the new centre which would be on a two-acre site which has been offered to Davidstow Parish Council by Saputo UK (formerly Dairy Crest) on a long lease.

The pre-application statement said: “Davidstow used to have a village hall, located on Blacka Lane, relatively close to the proposed site. The facility was well used. However, the building closed around 15 years ago and is now privately owned. Since then, there has been no suitable community facility to hold events. The organisation that operated the hall, the Davidstow Village Hall charity (Charity No 300535), has been looking for an alternative site, without success until now.

“Davidstow is a rural parish on the edge of Bodmin Moor. There are three small settlements (Tremail, Trewassa and Hallworthy), with the rest of the residents scattered widely over the parish. Since the closure of the old village hall and without the opportunity for meeting and socialising there has been a gradual but persistent reduction in community spirit.

“One small benefit of the COVID-19 pandemic has been an increased interest in ensuring that friends and neighbours are safe and well. The community would like to take the opportunity to build on this trend and establish a centre where the community can come together to meet, socialise, make new friends, exercise and join clubs and events.”

The trustees have already secured significant funding and it is hoped that construction can start next spring although additional funding is still required.

The application acknowledges that the site is exposed with potential for wind and road noise so a long, thin building is proposed with screening and banking to create a sheltered outside space.