Work on the 1886 building has included re-roofing the south-facing side and installing solar panels and new windows, as well as brand new electrics, complete with modern plumbing and heating.
In addition there is now an ‘honest library’ of books left by people for others to enjoy.
A new chairlift has also been installed to enable everyone to access the newly expanded douzaine room upstairs.
This incorporates a kitchenette, full disabled toilet, and TV screens with links for PowerPoint presentations. It is now being rented out as a meeting space for anyone to use.
The floor of its large hall, a sprung dancefloor, often used for weddings, funerals and parties, has been checked, sanded, varnished and restored, and a new projector has been installed.
Outside, the toilet block has been redone, repainted and fitted with a new store unit.
The finishing touches completed recently were the decoration of the windows, gutters and drainpipes.
‘The original estimate for the work was about £1m.,’ said constable Dave Beausire.
‘It’s now come in at about £300,000.’
Although the building is not listed, the windows that needed replacing have been fitted with durable materials rather than uPVC.
A wall by the Boer memorial has been extended, and asphalt placed around the building instead of gravel to make it more accessible.
Although some of the work was done by professional contractors, Mr Beausire said the low cost of the project was due to the efforts of a team of volunteers.
‘They’ve been fantastic,’ he said.
‘They basically stripped the place.
‘Long-term the whole thing that we were trying to do with the property has been to try to reduce the financial cost to the ratepayers.’
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