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FAILING COMMUNITY CENTRE IS NO REASON TO SELL LEISUREDROME

Dear Editor 

As a Parish Council member I would like to try to explain some of what is behind the Leisuredrome issue and assure your readers that some of what has been published here may be a bit wide of the mark.

The real reason for selling the Leisuredrome is purely to raise money to be able to 'bail out' the Community Centre with the balance going to football and other 'sports' which don't yet exist in Hawkinge. It's indoor sports facilities that young people claim they want 

The Community Centre is in dire financial straits and probably always will be. There is well researched evidence showing that such places throughout the country are used by only about ten percent of local residents and have to be subsidised by all local tax payers. Most uses are of a nature whereby economic fees cannot be charged. If they were even less people would use them, hence the need for subsidy.

Within the Council we have members who have done and still do a great deal of work for the village. In particular Cllr. Cyril Trice whose vision for local football is commendable. 

Much useful work has been done by others over many years to try to provide alternative facilities for young people hereabouts. The activities I conducted at the Leisuredrome for many years provided income which kept all of the premises running, not just the sports hall. The Hawkinge Sports and Community group have equally worked hard to good purpose. The problem is the current council ignore the Group's attempts to enter the debate.

The District Council had to have two stabs at whether the building should be pulled down and the site used for housing. On the second occasion they had facts which were denied them the first time which subsequently changed their opinion. It is the declared purpose of the District Council to support such facilities.

There is now a mind set of some Hawkinge Councillors whereby it seems to be a case of winning the argument at any cost. Demolition by any means. Were it possible to re-open the debate it is probable that closed minds could be opened to logic whereby common sense may prevail. This would need a complete re-start allowing for all interested parties to take part in consultation. A form of local referendum perhaps. But, with the present council I doubt that will happen. 

The descriptions of the building given here are grossly exaggerated. The building is old. I recall using it as a gymnasium back in the sixties. It looked tired and old then due to blast from nearby bomb explosions. (It was built to be bombproof) It is only intended to be used for local youth for a relatively short time when alternative arrangement may be possible. If its not used and some doubt it will, then it could be sent for planning approval again. The asset remains with the Council. 

It is my contention that alternative means of paying the losses of the Community Centre should be sought so as to give those other than its users a choice of using their recreational time as they would choose to do. 

Peter Hogben