Sutton Poyntz

 

The Mission Hall was built in 1892, and has been owned by Salisbury Diocese since 1925. Since 1999, it has been leased to the village, who created a Charity (the Mission Hall Trust) to act as leaseholders and to manage the Hall. One of the first activities by the Trust was to raise money (through events and in the form of a Lottery Grant) to build a  kitchen extension and disabled toilet. Much volunteer effort was also expended on improving the hall and garden, and continues to ensure the Hall is clean and in good order.

 

The Mission Hall Trust lets the Hall out to village groups and for events, and uses the income to maintain and improve the Hall and for heating, lighting etc. The Mission Hall is a service; it hosts or has hosted all sorts of village social, educational  and entertainment events as well as organisations such as the Village WI, art, whist, bridge and yoga groups, dog training, and private parties. The Mission Hall is also a business: over the 23 years, rental income of £71k has been received and used to fund running costs of £36k and maintenance bills of £26k; at the same time event income, grants and bequests have totalled another £70k (including a recent £10k bequest) which were used for improvements and equipment costing £42k (with plans to spend another £10k or so).

 

The initial lease was for 30 years, and so ends in 2029. However, the details of the current lease have some problems, including acting as a slight blocker in finding new members for the Management Committee. We have therefore decided, with Church encouragement, to start trying to negotiate a new lease a bit early, and to use this as an opportunity to try to make the Lease work better for all parties. Before we go too far, however, we want to get the village’s assurance that they support us in trying to extend the lease, that there are enough people willing to help make the Mission Hall a real asset for the village, and to establish how the Hall is of value to the village and what can be done to improve it.

 

That is the purpose of this Newsletter, which we are distributing to houses in and near the village of Sutton Poyntz. Please have a think about the questions below, and send in your thoughts and answers, either by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by dropping a note in to one of the following: Anthea Heathershaw (86 Sutton Road), Linda Kirkpatrick (Dunelm, Puddledock Lane), or Sue Wintle (Harwin, Mission Hall Lane).

 

 

Replies please, if possible by the end of October, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to Anthea Heathershaw, Linda Kirkpatrick, or Sue Wintle.