AN AMBITIOUS project by a village Women’s Institute includes plans to give its hall a complete renovation in order to secure the future of the thriving club.

Romanby WI, near Northallerton, has used the purpose-built WI hall in the village since the 1930s, but despite it being a sound, solid structure, it has little insulation and is in need of modernisation.

The plans include new external insulation on the walls, to be finished with rendering, double-glazed windows, air source heating, solar panels, and a small extension to house a separate meeting room.

The work is expected to cost in the region of £150,000, which will be gained through fundraising and from applying for community grants.

Group treasurer Margaret Whitehead said: “We have applied for planning permission from Hambleton District Council for the extension and the rendering work and we won’t hear back until mid-October.

“We do have very ambitious plans, and we believe they will benefit our group, and the local community, for many years to come.

“We recently got funding to put some insulation in the roof, and it has made such a difference already that it spurred us on with the rest of our plans, which need to be done altogether so everything fits into place. “We will be eco friendly with our heating, and the solar panels will offset the energy used by the air source heating.”

She said the project would mean the hall will be cheaper to run, more comfortable to enjoy in the winter months, and more sustainable in the long term.

The group, which boasts around 43 members with ages ranging from 30s to 90s, wants to be able to do more cookery classes and to provide catering for parties at the hall, so will also be extending and improving its kitchen. The group is holding a village-wide Scarecrow Festival on October 22 to 23, and has had more than 50 entries from the village and Northallerton.

Mrs Whitehead said: “We have been delighted with the support from the community. There will be tea and cakes, a trail around the village with a guess the name of the scarecrow, and a vote for the best one.” To contact the group call Mrs Whitehead on 01609-774383 or visit the Facebook page.