£100k windfall for town hall will mean new bar and community room

Funding of £75,000 from waste company Veolia will go towards a permanent bar being installed at Dawley Town Hall, improvement of toilets, a community-focused room to be hired out by groups, and more.

Great Dawley Town Council has contributed as part of the fund, with a grant of £25,000.

The town hall was only brought back into community use in 2013, with the support of Veolia and other partners including Telford & Wrekin Council.

The clerk of the town council detailed all of the changes that the cash would go towards.

Clare Turner said that the money will be used to "enhance the offer at the town hall for the community" by linking Dawley Town Hall with 2 and 3 New Street, a neighbouring building recently acquired by the council.

A permanent and purpose-made bar would be built, a community room created and toilets would be revamped with new better-equipped disabled toilet and changing room facilities. The existing town hall floor would be improved and there will be repairs to the building's roof.

Mayor of Great Dawley Jane Pinter said: “Since re-opening the town hall in 2013 the hall has hosted events for thousands of residents. The hall is special for so many reasons and this grant will ensure that the town hall enhances its offer for the community we serve. We are delighted and over the moon."

Councillor Shaun Davies, chairman of Great Dawley Town Council and leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "This is simply amazing. We could not be happier.

"We have worked hard to bring the town hall back into community use, which involves improving it every year, and our plans are to literally expand our offer with linking the building to 2 and 3 New Street in Dawley; this grant will mean we can offer even more to more of our residents and community.”

Andy Burford is a former director of Dawley Regeneration Partnership, and is now a borough councillor.

He said: “This demonstrates the real hard work of town council staff and councillors and partners, the town hall is at the heart of the community and this grant really is a big boost to our community."

The Veolia Environmental Trust, which donated £39,797 to the town hall back in 2014, distributes money from the landfill tax to community projects in areas close to its sites.