Councillor Spencer's speech at the opening of the Woollard Centre (Epping Forest Liberal Democrats)

Epping Forest Liberal Democrats <info@eflibdems.org.uk>

Councillor Spencer's speech at the opening of the Woollard Centre

August 21, 2008 3:40 PM

Lib Dem councillors past and present celebrating the opening of the Woollard Centre

It's good to see so many people here today. Without the persistence of the members of the Roding Centre Sub-Committee of Buckhurst Hill Parish Council followed by all party support this building would have been reduced to a pile of rubble and another block of flats would have appeared in Buckhurst Hill.

This centre was built in 1933 and used by the Territorial Army for many years as their drill hall. Since the Second World War it has been regarded by the local community as their building.

Although owned by Essex County Council it had been neglected over the years even though groups were still allowed to use it in its run down condition.

Liberal Democrat County Councillors spoke at the Executive and Audit Scrutiny committee in 2003 in support of its retention after Cllr Ann Haigh had called in the decision by Essex County Council to remove its youth service from the hall and sell the building off as surplus to requirements.

Following an outcry at a public meeting Buckhurst Hill Parish Councillors felt that it was their moral duty to try and save the hall from the bulldozer so a previous chairman of the Parish Council Cllr Andrew Thompson and the former leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Epping Forest District Council Dr Michael Heavens took up the challenge. Originally ECC offered the hall to the Parish Council for £600K. The Parish Council then faced obstructions and delays for several years in trying to get reliable information from ECC. Lengthy negotiations followed and the county council finally reduced their offer price to £275K which, with the help of the Parish Council's solicitors was finally reduced to £255K. The cost to the average Parish Council Tax payer so far has been only £15 per annum as a public works loan has been taken out to pay for and re-furbish the hall as it was found not to be fit for purpose because the building did not comply with modern regulations.

Cllr Malcolm Woollard has led the Roding Centre Working Group of the Parish Council, drawn up the plans for its refurbishment and has closely managed the project at a cost saving to the Parish of arguably around £25,000. We are also indebted to many other people and contractors. No doubt Cllr Malcolm Woollard will name them all presently.

The Parish Council have voted to re-name the centre 'The Woollard Centre'.

Some people ask 'What is the point of a Parish Council' Here we have a prime example of a community asset which would have been lost because of its remote management by a much larger council. It was only a name on a list to them whereas local residents saw it for what it was-a valuable local amenity.

Now we have a bright new hall as a meeting place for groups of all ages for the 21st Century.