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A village's £1m community hub is finally open after many months of setbacks and vandalism. The ribbon was at last cut on Stoke Holy Cross' new multi-purpose hall this week as parish officials celebrated the end of an often laborious construction timeline. Work was begun early last January to replace the old community centre in Long Lane because it was deemed to be too small.
Stoke Holy Cross Community Hall was officially opened by Charles Bussey (right) and Glyn Davies (Image: Sonya Duncan) Plans to build a new pavilion date to 2014 but funding for the project was not secured until June 2023 which included a "significant" grant from the South Norfolk Council Infrastructure Fund. READ MORE: New play area to be unveiled at popular sports centre An initial completion date was set for mid-August but heavy rains slowed work to a near-halt and the opening was pushed to September. The hall is now open for community use (Image: Sonya Duncan) Supply chain issues saw the deadline moved again but in late November the keys were given over to Charles Bussey, vice chairman of the project, marking the end of development .
But just weeks after completion, "mindless" vandals smashed the front door and side window , angering locals. A group of nearly 30 attended Tuesday's ribbon-cutting ceremony which saw the building officially opened for use..
