In 2020, the kitchen was refurbished with a new range, cupboards and taps and the WiFi was updated with high-speed Internet access.
Children’s play area
Children’s play equipment has been added to the village green, including swings, a slide and a climbing frame, the latter funded by Veolia and EHDC. The toilets have been refurbished and a new sound system installed.
Sunday (18 December 2016) saw the official unveiling of an early Christmas present for children and young people living in Beech – a great new piece of play equipment for the popular and well-used Beech Village Green, Wellhouse Road, near Alton.
David Woodroofe, Chairman of Beech Parish Council will performed the ceremony at 3pm, just before the Beech Children’s Christmas party.
The project was led by Beech Village Hall and Recreation Ground Management Committee and saw the installation of a rope climbing-frame and safety surfacing on the playground at the Village Green.
This was originally opened in August 2013 It was the idea of some new local parents who wanted to provide a play facility for children in the village. A fundraising campaign, run by a small sub-committee, raised enough funds for the installation of a set of swings and a climbing tower.
The new frame has already been extremely popular and now it has been installed, the committee’s attention has turned to providing something for older children. The climbing frame, which comprises several wooden posts with nets and ropes slung between them, was selected because it would provide lots of opportunities for climbing and fun.
The Veolia Environmental Trust awarded up to £12,343 through the Landfill Communities Fund and Cllr Tony Costigan awarded a grant of £500 through the East Hampshire District Council Councillor Grant scheme. The shortfall was met by the management committee from its fundraising and income from the village hall.
Treasurer and committee member, Anne Whitaker, says, “The structure has already been incredibly popular and we are looking forward to many years of use and enjoyment. We would like to thank The Veolia Environmental Trust and Cllr Tony Costigan for their funding.”
The additional rope climber was installed in September 2016:
Refurbishment of the toilets in the old annexe
Since the “big build”, improvements have continued. In 2011, the old toilets and storerooms were updated to create a meeting room, unisex toilet and kitchenette in the Annexe. A couple of years later, the car park was resurfaced and lighting installed.
The major extension and refurbishment of the village hall
In December 2008, Beech was awarded a grant by the Big Lottery Fund towards the extension and refurbishment of the Village Hall. Combined with the funds already raised by the village, including grants from Hampshire County Council, East Hampshire District Council and Beech Parish Council, this meant that work could start on construction of a new wing housing the new main hall, together with the complete refurbishment and re-equipping of the old hall as a bar, kitchen and cloakrooms.
The grand unveiling
Alton Herald article, December 2008: Lottery grant for village hall
Hall build report, April 2009: Work gets under way
Hall build report, August 2009: The build in pictures
Hall build report, October 2009: the new Hall takes shape
Hall opening report, March 2010: Official opening by Alan Titchmarsh
The lease of the recreation ground
The inauguration of the village hall
in 1932, Mrs Asser transferred the property to the village for use as a village hall. The original structure housed a bar-lounge, kitchen and cloakrooms. Around 1960, General Morgan Owen bequeathed the recreation ground to the village. Both amenities are managed on behalf of the village by the Beech Village Hall & Recreation Ground Charitable Trust.