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Published:
January 17, 2009
Talks
with insurance company underway after ceiling collapses at hall
 Bosses
at Highbridge's Morland Community Hall are in talks with their
insurance company about compensation after the ceiling broke through
in one area, causing an estimated £4,000 of damage.
The
hall has been closed in recent days due to the accident, which
means Burnham and Highbridge Stroke Club, Highbridge Youth Club,
the community cafe and the Active Living Days groups have been
unable to meet.
The
hall's chairman, Richard Matthews, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The
hall's cleaner found the damage one morning last week and was
faced with a complete ceiling collapse above the disabled toilets.
Water was pouring in through the roof."
"We
are discussing the matter with our insurance company, but in the
meantime we are appealing for help."
One
of the hall's committee, Pat Farrow, showed Burnham-On-Sea.com
the damage this week, as pictured above, and added: "The
ceiling is in a terrible state - it's such a sad sight."
 Sue
Quatermass of the Burnham and Highbridge Regeneration group, told
Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The Morland hall has been a main focus
in Highbridge for our community development project to develop
use of the facility over the past two years."
"Community
buildings are precious spaces and it is important that we take
care of them."
"Many
are allowed to fall into a bad state of repair because committees
struggle to survive and do not have access to financial resources
to invest in their facilities for the future. We need to reopen
the hall as soon as possible."
"Due
to bad weather and the cold, many people are isolated at this
time of year, and the community cafe provided a wonderful warm
space for local people of all ages to meet and spend quality time
together."
"We
would also like to create a lunch club for older people at the
hall in the coming months, and have recently supported an application
for funding to create health and well-being classes at the hall
for young parents."
She
added that a bingo event is set to be held in aid of the hall
in the coming weeks, and said donations of prizes can be dropped
in at the Regeneration Partnership office at the back of Alpha
House in Highbridge.
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