Upgrade Project
We are currently in the process of improving and upgrading the facilities at our hut.
The improvements are based around two main areas; improving the safety and security of the hut, and improving the facilities for the hut users.
Upgrade plans
Wet Room
The accessible toilet will be turned into a wet room with a shower, which is a much sought after addition for leaders staying at the hut for residential events. The wet room will still contain accessible toilet facilities.
Ranger Room
The Ranger Room will be turned into a breakout room for use for Girlguiding hirers.
Kitchen
We are planning to equip the kitchen with a large, powerful catering stove, and a full size frige freezer. Our current kitchen is not adequate for catering for larger groups, such as overnight residential events.
Flooring
The wooden floor will be white washed then sealed with resin, to brighten the hut, to ensure the hall floor is completely flat for users, as well as decreasing maintenance on the wooden flooring, and make the hall easier to clean.
Rear Fire Exit
Improve the ramped access from the rear fire exit, to be safer and easier to use.
Toilets
Our current "girls" toilets will be replaced with self-contained unisex stalls, both to increase the number of toilets in total, as well as improve safeguarding - currently any adults or male hut users have to use our single accessible toilet.
Completed Upgrades
Fire Alarm System
We have replaced our previous smoke alarms with a new interlinked system throughout the hut, improving safety for all our users.
Perimeter Fencing
To improve the security of the hut for our users, and prevent further damage due to vandalism, we have fenced around the land we lease. This included clearing the overgrown area behind the hut, to be a secure area for campfires or outdoor games.
Heating
We have replaced our old, inefficient, outdated fan heaters with new heaters that are more efficient, safer, and quieter. They are also on timers, ensuring the hut is warm for users arrival.
Pauline Geering Room
We have transformed our lacklustre back room into a leaders room for residential events. The room now has bunk beds, a sofa bed, additional bedside furniture and a modern makeover to provide a useful and comfy space for leaders to sleep during residential events.
Front Door
We have replaced our front door with a modern, secure, UPVC door, to improve security for our hut uers. The new door is wider, and has a flat threshold, improving our accessibility for those with limited mobility.
Fuse Board
The outdated fuse board has been replaced with a safer, modern fuse cabinet. The electricity distribution in the hut has been updated. These improvements had to be completed before the electricity supply could be increased.
Campfire Circle
We have created a campfire circle inside our new fenced perimeter. This will enable Girlguiding units to more easily have safe, fun, campfires with lots of 'smores!
Electricity Supply
We have upgraded our 2 phase electricty supply from the national grid to 3 phase, to bring us in line with modern standards, which will enable us to use more power within the hut, to make further improvements.
Defibrillator
We have installed a defibrillator on the exterior of our hut fencing, to benefit the local community as well as our hut users.
Games Store
Our games store now has coded access so all Girlguiding hirers of the hut can use the games equipment with their groups.
Water Butt
We have installed a water butt to be used for gardening and extinguishing campfires, to reduce our fresh water usage where possible.
Rear Fire Door
The rear fire exit door has been replaced with a modern push-bar fire exit to improve safety for all users.
Hut prior to improvement works