Why The Need for a new Community Centre?
Condition of Building 1.
The current building is well presented, has a lovely garden to the front, and a large garden of grass and trees that surround the sides and back of the building. The hall looks across the green, and it is in a lovely location. The Parish Centre has been well–maintained over the years, and is still in regular use by groups, commercial enterprises, individuals, and as a Polling Station.
However, the construction methods and materials of the 1960s have not worn well. The fabric of the building is showing its age, there are issues with accessibility and safeguarding, the heating, power and drainage systems are beyond economical repair and are no longer fit for purpose.
Although the building does meet basic accessibility needs, it fails to offer the current standards for accessibility and safeguarding. There are not enough toilets, the kitchen needs to be replaced, and the office space is insufficient to support the Pastoral and Administrative staff in their work.
Maintenance costs have started to outstrip income, issues with the fabric of the building, plumbing and drains have become expensive to repair.
The Parochial Church Council called together a group of users and local residents to investigate the possibility of replacing or refurbishing the centre. A project team was formed from volunteers from the initial meeting, and the first key document produced was the Business Case, where you can see the options considered and the recommendation agreed by the PCC. See: Project/Project Management/Business Case .
Not meeting User Needs 2.
Since it was built there has been an increase in house-building in the locality – Gomer, Alverstoke, Kennedy Crescent, Green Lane infill, Privett, Clayhall and Haslar. This has placed an increasing demand for community spaces in the area, which cannot now be met by this building. Only one room can be used at any time as there is no soundproofing between the main hall and the smaller room. some potential users have been lost, as their preferred day and time was already taken, or their privacy would be compromised.
If the lounge and main hall are in use at the same time, the parish Admin team cannot access the kitchen.
Before the Pandemic, the one letting room was booked at 60% capacity over 5 days, with a weekend capacity booking of 50%. There was a shortage of time–slots during the day as only one room can be let at a time. We could accommodate more groups if we had more letting rooms!!
Cost of Maintenance vs Potential Income 3.
The cost of maintaining the building has outstripped the maximum income that can be raised from hire charges, and without additional letting rooms, there only way to increase income is by increasing hire charges – but there is a limit to what is seen as a reasonable rate for hiring.
Failing to meet Regulations 4.
The legislative Requirements adopted by Gosport Borough have required the basic 60s building to be much adapted and modernised but it still fails to meet the standards of modern community facilities with regard to:
- Accessibility
- Currently there is one toilet that can be accessed by a narrow door into the ladies.
- There is no automatic opening door, making it difficult for individuals in wheelchairs.
- Nowhere for fathers to change children, and ...
- We feel the need to provide an Adult Changing Space, as there is so little provision of these facilities.
- Safeguarding – which requires separate facilities for children. Currently, children need to use the adult toilets, and someone must be with them to ensure their safety at all times.
- Car Parking. There are only five spaces for the use of the Parish Centre, and access is across a dropped curb, with restricted visibility as there are no restrictions to on–road parking.
- Road Safety. New regulations governing this building would demand a wider access to a car park for around 10 cars, with on-road parking restrictions to ensure full visibility for car drivers and pedestrians using the car park and pathway.
Lack of Indoor Community Space in Area 5.
There is no other local venue that offers the same size of Hall (capacity 100) with direct access to kitchen and garden.
It is a source of concern to local residents that despite the boom in housing development, there has been no associated development of community facilities by the Local Authority, as stated in their Local Plan 2011–2029.
The current demand for meeting spaces in this area outstrips the supply. The David Bogue Hall had to close recently due to increased costs of maintenance and refurbishment. This closure has highlighted the issue of the decreasing number of indoor community spaces available for an increasing number of residents in this borough.
Impact of Closure 6.
This development was deemed by the Local Authority as essential to meet their stated need to provide good quality community space '... to help alleviate health deprivation issues.' '... need to increase participation in leisure and cultural activities to improve physical and mental well–being.'
If the Parish Centre had to close because funds were not available to rebuild the drains, provide additional toilets, repair the roof, provide new heating and power systems, create soundproofed letting rooms and provide space for pastoral care, then there would be:
- A complete displacement for the many groups and individuals who use the centre on a regular basis.
- No focal point in the community, and no community events,
- No provision of events and social interaction which provide precisely what is needed to maintain good mental health and well-being.
- No provision for the needs highlighted by Pandemic in relation to community spaces.
- No other local venue to house the number and variety of groups that use the centre, with access to a kitchen and garden which allow groups and charities the opportunity to hold fund-raising events inside and out.
- No community subsidy for hiring charges for the less wel–off groups who do not pay the going rate for hall hire
- A loss of social events and interaction with a related increase in feeling isolated for those most likely to suffer loneliness in our community.
Impact of Fall–back Option 7.
The fall-back option would be to refurbish and potentially extend the current footprint (depending on funds available). The impact of that would be:
- An ongoing battle with the original 1960s fabric.
- Huge investment for minimal gain in income or additional space.
- Would not redress the balance of the loss of community spaces.