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FINANCE GROUP RECOMMEND SELLING LEISUREDROME LAND 

The future of the Spitfire Leisuredrome is in doubt following a hard hitting report by the Parish Council's Finance Group.

Councillors were told at last night's  Parish Council Meeting (10 August) that the building, which was to become a youth centre and sports hall, had been criticised by the Finance Group report.

It said in the report that the facility needed to be more central to the village and the high roof and the age of the Leisuredrome could mean the costs for maintaining and heating the building would be expensive.

The report pulled no punches and said the young people of the village deserved a better facility and that would only be achieved by disposing of the land with the proceeds devoted to facilities for the village emphasising on the needs of the young people.

The Parish Council agreed to apply for a market valuation of the land and will discuss the matter again once the valuation had been received, at the next Parish Council meeting on 14 September.

Parish Council Chairman David Callahan told the Gazette that the Memorial Garden to the front of the Spritfire Leisuredrome would not be included in the market valuation for the land and will not be sold.

Transcript of the Finance Group report

FINANCE GROUP REPORT

HAWKINGE PARISH COUNCIL

July 2005

Finance Group.

Consideration of development of future village facilities has been made by the Finance Group of the Parish Council with an emphasis on providing for sport and meeting places for young people. Opinion had been given as advice to the Group by people professionally involved in youth work.

The village is now well catered for by the Community Centre and the sports field at the Access road which is currently being developed alongside the established Cricket Club. The result of an earlier survey of village residents had suggested there is a demand for other sports such as, for example, tennis, hockey and a golf driving range.

Costs of provision is a major item. Negotiations are currently in being with the Football Association to provide a grant of funds as part payment for development of existing football pitches with, as soon as possible, a new pavilion.

It was emphasised by people previously working with young people that they will prefer to use facilities as they require and not as 'adults dictate'. Also; that 'fashion' changes and any facility provided should be able to change with it.

The Group discussed in considerable depth the following matter and came to conclusions: There has over recent times been a suggested possibility of using the old RAF Gymnasium in Aerodrome Road, known as the Leisuredrome, as a sports hall and youth club.

The Finance Group concluded that this option was not the best means of furthering facilities within the village and that young people deserved better. Consideration was given to arguments earlier presented that the building should remain as being the only one from the time of RAF use. It was concluded that the building had changed significantly from its original appearance and that ex airfield buildings at the Museum met this point of view of preservation of local history.

The Leisuredrome building is old and would require continual spending on upkeep to keep it in being Heating of the building, due to its high roof, was likely to be very costly.

The Leisuredrome as a youth club is not best placed as being too far for young people from other parts of the village to reach. It is hoped that facilities could be provided more centrally.

Noise factors were considered as it is reasonable to assume that loud music should be expected as part of use of a facility for youth. The Leisuredrome is close to residential property which could lead to complaint.

Note was made of a recent poll conducted by the Hawkinge Gazette which showed a total of 356 votes having been made. The 'Demolished' option received the most votes followed by 'Renovated'.

The group concluded that it would recommend to the Parish Council that the land be disposed of and the proceeds devoted to further facilities for the village with an emphasis on provision for youth.