ConcernsOver Futureof Hollington Community Centre
The future of Hollington Community Centre remains uncertain after an East Sussex County Council (ESCC) report warned the building requires “significant capital investment” to ensure its long-term sustainability.
A comprehensive refurbishment is needed
Reform UK’s Cllr Stephen Chapman, the Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change on ESCC, presented a condition survey commissioned by the council, which identified approximately £735,000 of works categorised as either “urgent” or “important,” which needed to be undertaken within the next five years. A further £71,500 of suggested or optional works was also identified, though the council has warned that actual costs may be significantly higher.
The property is recognised by the council as a community asset, but Cllr Chapman indicated ESCC does not have the budget available to undertake the comprehensive refurbishment of the property needed and has no operational requirement for the building.
ESCC has agreed to launch a bidding process for the community centre and is hopeful that a new operator will come forward to take on the ageing building.
Under the approved process, community and voluntary organisations will be invited to express their interest in taking on a lease. A successful bidder will be expected to have a good plan to ensure that the community centre is used for the right purpose in addition to meeting all other lease obligations.
The property has been nominated as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act 2011, meaning eligible local groups have a Community Right to bid if the owner decides to dispose of it. Leases granted for 25 years or more are regarded as disposals under the Act.
The council says that granting a lease to a community or voluntary organisation in the first instance will enable the property to be retained as a sustainable community asset, while allowing the operator to access external grant funding for improvements.
Cllr Chapman warned that if no suitable community or voluntary organisation comes forward, further options will have to be considered.
The report stresses that the bidding process relates only to the community centre building and not the adjacent Hollington Youth Hub, which has only recently reopened after a £3.3 million refurbishment.
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