2 x toilets fitted

Rob Hall (my hero) had the hall keys this morning. Looking in the hall, I see that we have two new toilet pans and cysterns fitted in the ladies. The good news is that the doors are able to close with a person on the inside of the cubicle and with the loo in place! This may not be staggering news, but with the first batch of loos, this was not possible.

Overflows are yet to be fitted, but these new loos look very nice. Picture shows work in progress. Thanks Rob.

Fire kit in the building plus plus

The new fire extinguishers are unpacked and placed in the hall. Signs and brackets are still to be affixed in place, but its a start.

Ivor and Akela placed the gas cage on the concrete slab (I knew he would mention its not being level). BBQ kit is further down the side of the building. Crucially, the gas cage does not obstruct the club fire door (its well away). This may have been a little early as the concrete has cracked where the cage impacted it. Still, the cage is solid and its new hinges open very well.

We discussed racking in the boiler room. Ivor will get on with this during next week.

Grants

Earlier today we registered an expression of interest with the North Wessex Downs grant scheme. We also submitted an application for a 'Grassroots' grant with Swindon Borough Council for £1000.

Looks like the fire extinuishers have arrived (OK, with CityLink and I have yet to collect them).

I have until the end of Sunday to answer questions from PC / village Trust 'due diligence'.

Have a great weekend!

Fire protection kit ordered

With the exception of the kitchen hatch and fire seals for the kitchen / room doors, I have just ordered all of the fire protection kit the hall needs. With our camping kit in the hall and increasing amounts of people traffic into the hall, fire extinguishers are increasingly required. Kit that has been ordered was defined by the fire service during their inspection (prices need VAT adding):

9 Litre Water £22.25 x2 (Hall)
9 Litre Foam Spray £28.25 x2 (Hall)
2KG Carbon Dioxide £24.00 x2 (stage)
2KG Dry Powder £13.75 x1 (kitchen)
1.2 m x 1.2 m Fire Blanket £9.50 x1 (kitchen)
Water Extinguisher ID Sign £2.65 x2
Foam Extinguisher ID Sign £2.65 x2
CO2 Extinguisher ID Sign £2.65 x2
Dry Powder Extinguisher ID Sign £2.65 x1
Escape Route Keep Clear Sign 200 x 150 £5.25 x1
Push Bar To Open Sign 150 x 400 £7.50 x2

I will order the door seals in the next few days and get Andy to exercise his DIY prowess using my crappy router! This will be a LOT cheaper than £220 to have the seals supplied and installed.

The camping kit needs to be placed on racks and moved out of the hall. I have jiffied Skip and the Rabbit (via email, which he never reads) to get the racking installed...

Hardstanding for cage and donation

We need to place the gas cage at to the rear of the hall. A concrete hard standing is required to house the gas bottle cage (and make it a non muddy experience). Behind the concrete pad is the plynth where the oil tank will sit.

I spent this morning digging out the area and installing wooden shutter boards. I then added seven bags of pre mixed concrete... I watered the concrete and its starting to 'go off'. It looks OK, but I bet I get 'constructive' criticism from my fellow Scouts.

I went to check the concrete and a group of people were looking in through the hall windows. I mentioned our work and it transpired that some of the party were evacuees from Alderney who lived as children in Chiseldon during the war. One lady rememebered jitterbugging in the hall to a band and another chap remembered being at a childrens party organised by American servicemen. He said the party was great. I went and got the hall keys and gave the party the 'guided tour'. There were lots of positive comments about the state of the hall.

I popped off the check the state of the concrete and a young woman from the group I had just shown round, handed me a £10 donation for the Scout Group as I made my way by her, on my way home. A nice touch.

Post Cub Camp update

Cub camp is over and we start the serious business of working out what kit fits where. Racking is now urgently needed (the is the Rabbits department - once Skip has stated what size the shelves need to be).

Electricty supply will be installed on 1st, 2nd and 3rd of July. This will involve a trench across Draycott Road...

The quote for rewire should be circa £3000 +VAT. This is cheaper than all previous quotes. Written quote will be with me soon.

Kit insurance, fire seals and metal kitchen hatch shutter

I have quotes for the kitchen shutter (a fire requirement) and the tumescent seals on boiler and kitchen doors. Both are more than I want to pay, so I'll speak to other suppliers.

We have all of our camping kit located in the hall or on camp. This planned move triggered me to call our insurers and let them know we are now operating from the hall (even if we still need to build the racking etc). I called them after (what was a late) lunch and informed the insurers of the move. A £68 refund is on the way to our Treasurer... fantastic! Reason for the refund is the improved fire standard of the building!

Cub camp build is tonight, followed by details such as tables, food and kitchen during tomorrow. This is a busy time and I have to be careful not to let my eye go off the ball.

Council, Loo's and electricity

The loos didn't allow the ladies cubicle doors to close, so they were rejected and new ones are being ordered by our beloved tame plumber Mr Hall. We have all ceramics out, new pipework fitted (with isolators) and we await new porcelain items being delivered. We currently have holes in the ground blocked by plastic bungs... but this does mean fitting of the new items should be very easy.

The hall curtains are all back up and look great now they have been ironed.

The move into the hall has started with some camping kit and canvas being moved onto the stage and onto the floor. This is temporary as we still need to build the racking in the boiler rooom.

I have chased the electrician and he will have a quote for rewire with us very soon.

The blind for the kitchen hatch, door seals (intumescent sp?) and door closers were measured this afternoon and a written quote will be with us shortly.

Finally (last night) another visit to the Parish Council progressed the dialogue regarding funds release... it seems slow, but I have been assured the PC and trustees of the village fund want to do 'due diligence'...

Fire exit signs are up and look good. Skip has progressing his pet project of short lengths of coat hooks, - these should be good for all sizes of hall user!

Ladies plumbing

I just took delivery of three toilets, cysterns, copper pipe and connectors. We are in the hall tomorrow morning from 8 (ish) and will focus on ladies toilets and hot water. Rob Hall is as good as his word and will lead the work during tomorrow (Saturday).

Update - electrical supply and funds

Last night was Chiseldon Sports & Social Club AGM. Members were warmly supportive of our efforts and there was praise from David Liddiard regarding quality of progress to date.

A few minutes ago, I was at a site visit with the Electricity people. Despite drilling the required hole, we now need another hole as they have changed their plans. They will now dig a trench across Draycott Rd and feed in on the North wall of the front entrace. A pipe will come up out of the ground and the meter will sit in the front porch. Above the meter will be the consumer unit.

Progress has been made with the Parish Council Finance Committee. We have to submit a written request for funds for the 8th June 09 meeting of the Council... Village Trust members are increasingly supportive of our venture. Primary reason they bhave move position is the 'business plan' we drafted that gives costs to renovate, costs of operation, a risk assessment plus an informal investment appraisal.

No news from the electrician, but now we know we will have electric in early July, we can get cracking.