Crowboroughs Long Awaited New Community Centre

[Info@crowborough.info]

Well it appears that Crowboroughs long awaited new community centre is becoming a reality.

A planning application has been submitted, and can be found at http://www.planning.wealden.gov.uk/aspx ... ategory=DC

The artists impression of the building looks fantastic, and Morgan Carn Partnership are to be congratulated for designing the building and submitting the planning applications so quickly.

Also in the current Courier there was an article about fundraising for the new centre, and that article can be found at http://www.thisiscourier.co.uk/displayN ... 5312#views

Feel free to comment on this proposal.

[Info@crowborough.info]

The Planning Officer has now issued his report on this application and has stated that it should be approved.

Looks like Crpwbprpughs long awaited community facility might be here soon!

[StevenWaterfall]

I keep reading about the new centre, mostly around here but only small/vague details about it, Is there a website for the process? I've looked at http://www.c-c-a.org.uk/ but seems either dead or just not kept up to date .

[balloonmolly]

I keep reading about the new centre, mostly around here but only small/vague details about it, Is there a website for the process? I've looked at http://www.c-c-a.org.uk/ but seems either dead or just not kept up to date .

Yes, it does seem rather dead, especially the Pine Grove Hall information!

[Info@crowborough.info]

That site is awaiting an update, but like most things in Crowborough it never turns out to be that simple!

However it should be updated soon!

[balloonmolly]

Thanks for the explanation about the CCA website but to be honest, it is a bit pathetic really . Site last modified 24th October 2002? I really can't believe that a website can take 6 years for a minor text update to be made (essentially removing out of date information). A whole overhaul to create an aesthetically pleasing and contextually accurate version of this website could be done in 2-3 days tops. The fact that you can't keep a basic website up to date is not a promising reflection of your efforts towards a community facility.

You often say that continued support is required from residents and yet from what information that is available the whole project appears to be run by the town bigwigs with what seems to be little input from the actual community.

StevenWaterfall wrote:"I keep reading about the new centre, mostly around here but only small/vague details about it, Is there a website for the process? I've looked at http://www.c-c-a.org.uk/ but seems either dead or just not kept up to date" and he makes an extremely valid point. Are we just supposed to keep our eyes open for poorly placed posters informing us of some clandestine meeting about the centre or is there supposed to be some actual community involvement in the process, if so you're doing a pretty poor job of it! I'm sure if members of the community were actively given an opportunity to participate in the process, some would embrace it fully. However, I have also been informed that even when help has been offered by individuals, contact has not been returned by the organisation so your claims of lack of community support appear to be self inflicted (e.g Chat/New Community Centre - 22/06/2008 - "There's a section on the board about the new community centre, but no one has commented on it. Is this because no one has seen the post, no one believes it is going to happen, or you don't care?!"

I'm sure you will take this as an attack, but is by no means intended to slur or insult the efforts of CCA or it's relative bodies. It is however, intended to draw attention to the facts that with a project or organisation that is supposed to "promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the civil parishes of Crowborough, Buxted, Rotherfield and Withyham and the neighbourhood (hereinafter called "the area of benefit") without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions, by associating together the said inhabitants and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants" we, the residents of Crowborough (and surrounding parishes) should actually be kept well informed about the progress, issues or problems as well as having creative and practical input towards all aspects of this project rather than receiving vague updates, lame excuses and lack of interest from help offered.

Also some elaboration on the comment - "like most things in Crowborough it never turns out to be that simple!" would be most welcome!

[Info@crowborough.info]

As far as I am concerned you are welcome to your views and I wouldn't necessarially disagree them whether in whole or part. I would however like to know who has volunteered to help with the new facility and been ignored. Could you PM me the details?

I would also be interested to know who you believe the "bigwigs" are? I certainly believe there have been faults in the process, and have a sneaking suspicion as to who some will blame, although have doubts that blame is justified. I would agree there should have been greater publicity of the project although there is also an argument that there have been so many false dawns there was little point in raising expectations with this project.

Indeed it is still possible that the whole thing could go pear-shaped!

[Info@crowborough.info]

The lottery have confirmedthat they are prepared to grant just under £300,000 towards this project. There will now be a drive to raise a substantial sum of money in the next 6 months or so to see how realistic it is to actually build this centre.

My understanding is that around £2 million is still required, and that the start date for construction is Spring 2010.

I guess people might have views on this!!

[Info@crowborough.info]

Some interesting articles in The Courier, which would seem to indicate that maybe the facility is not supported as much as those involved would like. It is interesting to note that that there has not been a single supportive post or letter about the proposals.

Links here

http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/news/300- ... ticle.html

http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/news/Comm ... ticle.html

[Info@crowborough.info]

Apparently Wealden are reviewing their plans to move to Hailsham as the economic situation has thwon the sums in to chaos. Thats not surprising after all the sums were hardly beneficial in the first place.

However this change may impact on the new community facility hence in this thread.

Courier article here http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/news/Weal ... ticle.html

[Info@crowborough.info]

Well the fomal launch of the fund raising for the new hall was last Saturday. Around 40 people in the Chamber at Wealdens Pine Grove offices, with speeches by Charles Hendry, Dr Spencer, Clive Wilson and Alan Cornish. The latter saying that the time for arguing about the size, and hire costs of the new hall are over.

No indicaions of how the money is going to be raised, although it was stated there would be local fund raising events etc.

The Courier report on the event is here: -

http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/news/Fund ... ticle.html

[Info@crowborough.info]

Well it seems the money is not to be raised, and the Town Council are going to borrow £1.4 million to cover the cost. See the Town Council meeting minutes for their June meeting to be found on their website