A YEAR on since the people of West Woodburn were on the brink of losing their village hall, things are looking up for the small North Tyne village.

Corsenside Parish Hall was in danger of being closed and sold off in May last year, unless sufficient volunteers came forward.

Now, after running under its new committee for a full year, the hall has already undergone some improvements and the committee has high hopes for its future.

They have received grants of £1,500 from Northumberland Community Chest, £2,000 from Northumberland National Park and £6,000 from Coun. John Riddle’s discretionary fund.

At an AGM last week, members of the public had the chance to speak to committee members about the hall’s progress, including urgent repairs to the floor, including sub-floor ventilation insulation, and new windows which have already been installed.

The committee said they are planning to apply for funding from one of the wind farm community benefit funds to complete their next stage of improvements.

“We would be keen to maintain the traditional nature of the hall,” explained committee member David Newton.

“It was built in 1906. We could do the inside out and clad it in modern materials, but that would destroy the original character.”

The committee discussed the option of having a newly-fitted kitchen which could be used for community events, and a member of Community Action Northumberland, who was at the meeting, said she would be happy to give guidance on this if funding was found.

And usage of the hall has picked up thanks to a new computer club for beginners, run by committee member Richard Virden, with the team hoping to start other similar clubs in the future.