July 2025:
Funding is received from Argyll and Bute CLLD and Scottish Energy CARES. This, combined with previous funding from Foundation Scotland, enables the Ford Village Hall Renovation and Decarbonisation Project to commence.
August 6th:
Meeting on site with Crawfords, the project contractors, to discuss exactly what will be done and when. Work is expected to begin in early September and is anticipated to last for approximately eight weeks.
August 13th:
Teams are meeting with the CLLD team to discuss our project and timeline for completing the work. The Hall was also complimented on the strength of our application, and we have been asked to host a meeting of local groups to discuss it and to serve as a "trailblazer" project for village halls.
September 1st:
Work at the hall will begin on September 15th and will primarily focus on the main hall. The committee will seek funding going forward to improve the toilets and kitchen. 1st monthly update submitted to CARES. Packing up the hall will begin after the SWI meeting this week. DGC Landscaping has been asked to provide a quote for improvements to the Hall car park.
September 2nd:
Sorting and packing the Hall's contents begin.
September 8th:
The packing up of the Hall is now complete, and the Hall is ready for work to commence on the 15th.
September 15th
Work begins on site with Crawfords setting up their welfare unit and storage, securing the site with fencing and making a start with upgrading the electrics.
September 17th
The old heating system and electrics have been removed, and the timber framing for the insulation has started.
September 21st
More timber framing has been installed, and the insulation is beginning to go in.
September 29th
Today, several members of the Crawfords group were on site to continue fixing the insulation and to begin installing the air-to-water heat pumps. The car park is like an army camp!
October 6th:
The new heating system requires an external concrete plinth to be built, a plant room in the kitchen and piping to link the hot water to the kitchen, toilets and the new radiators. Insulation continues to be installed.
October 14th
The focus of last week was mainly on installing new electrics to support the heating system, installing new lighting, and replacing old sockets and switches. The toilets are currently a mini warehouse.
October 20th
Over a month into the project, and the plasterboarding is beginning to be installed. This is a major job as all the walls and ceiling will need to be covered.
October 28th
This week, the finer details have been installed: the new switches and sockets, skirting boards, door frames, and window sills. The Hall walls and ceiling have now been completely covered in plasterboard. In addition, the new fire door and lockable interior doors are ready for installation.
October 31st
The air source heating system is going in. This will revolutionise the heating in the Hall. We will have instant hot water and radiators throughout the main hall. The Hall's restoration also featured in the Argyll Advertiser this week.
November 19th
The finish line is in sight now. The heating system is now fully installed. The 7 huge radiators will keep the hall toasty, and the new insulation and draft-proof doors will help keep that heat inside the building.
The bathroom area will now have two heating panels so that we can keep this important space warm during events at the hall. There will be running hot water too.
The new fire doors have been installed and are now draft-proof.
The remaining two days of the work will be focused on redecoration, installing the lighting and clearing the site.
The Hall is due to be handed over by Crawfords at 5 pm Thursday 20th November. The committee will then be on site working hard to clean and move the furniture, etc, back in ready for our reopening party on Saturday, 22nd November. This is going to be a big job!!
Friday 21st November
As promised, Crawfords delivered the Hall back to the community on time and on budget. The committee then spent Friday and into Saturday working hard to ensure the Hall was clean and tidy, ready for the visit of local MSP Jenni Minto on Saturday, 22nd November and the reopening party that evening. The hall was super warm and bright and very DUSTY! The Hall is now done - for the time being - we have other plans to fund in order to further achieve items from the village community action plan.
MSP Jenni Minto visits thee Hall for "coffee,cake and a chat".
The Grand Reopening Party
Monday 24th November
So work actually continues at the Hall - the car park is now being renovated, extended, and new stone is being laid. This should end the scramble for spaces and stepping out into 3 inches of freezing, muddy water. DGC Landscaping are carrying out this important work.
Car park is scraped and extended.
Tuesday 25th November
The stone arrives for the cleared car park.