VILLAGERS in Westwood have officially opened their newly-refurbished Parish Rooms at a special reception on Saturday.

The reception was held to thank all the major donors and organisations who supported the £130,000 modernisation and refurbishment programme to make the improvements possible.

Representatives from a range of organisations which supported the refurbishment and people from across Westwood attended the reception from 1pm onwards.

Richard Askew, who until very recently lived in Westwood and who led the campaign to raise the funds for the refurbishment, cut a ceremonial ribbon marking the official opening.

He said: “It is fantastic. We are all very impressed and delighted to see how the refurbishment project has turned out and I would like to thank everybody for their contribution towards it.”

Chris Edwards, chair of the Westwood Parish Room Trustees, said the parish rooms were now open and taking bookings following the extensive improvements.

He said: “The newly-modernised and extended facilities are the ideal local venue for children’s parties, family events and for local clubs and activities.

“Many people took the opportunity to see the changes for themselves during the recent Westwood Church Fete and the feedback from visitors was 100 per cent positive.”

The improvements to the building, first opened in 1892, were made possible by the generosity and kindness of local residents who donated £23,000 towards the cost.

Other Wiltshire organisations also donated funds, including the Swindon-based Hills Group Ltd, which gave a £10,000 grant through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF), which is administered for Hills by Community First, the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire.

The money has enabled the Trustees to offer fantastic new facilities for local people, including a new tea room which opened in June and is now serving visitors to the nearby Nationa Trust property, Westwood Manor, from 2pm to 5pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday until the end of September.

Mr Edwards added: “The Parish Rooms have been used as tea rooms over the summer and we have already lots of visitors and we are now getting bookings for use of it.”

For Westwood Parish Rooms bookings or further information, contact Caroline Philpott 07733 263760 or email westwoodparishrooms@gmail.com