Grand opening of eco-friendly hall

Beechwood Hall in Cooksbridge cost more than 210,000 to build and 60,000 of the cash was raised by local people.

On Saturday the hall was officially opened.

The event opened with songs from children from Hamsey County Primary School, followed by speeches from Cllr Michael Bell, chairman of Hamsey Parish Council, and Duncan Baker Brown of Lewes architects BBM Sustainable Design.

Cllr Bell praised Peter Mitchell, the chairman of the hall's trustees for the time and energy and he had put in to steering the project over three years.

Mr Baker Brown highlighted his firm's use of environmentally friendly materials, as well as the building's innovative renewable energy system.

The ribbon was cut by trustees Shirley Whitley and Sue Rowland assisted by Cooksbridge teenager Callum Huseyin, whose name had been picked out of hat just moments earlier.

A display of photographs detailing the transformation of the building, formerly a disused sports pavilion, was presented by Lynda Ridge.

Among those who came to give their support were the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Phyllida Stewart-Roberts, Lewes MP Norman Baker and district and county councillors.

Beechwood Hall is the first hall in the South East to use three sources of renewable energy.

It boasts an innovative system which combines wind, geothermal and solar power and the energy created by the system is continuously displayed on panels inside the building.

The hall has a fully equipped kitchen, underfloor heating and seats up to 100.

It also has a smaller meeting room for small groups of up to six.

It will be open for events, parties and meetings from October 1. For more information: email [email protected]