Talks due over Borehamwood village hall funding
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| In doubt? an artist's impression of Borehamwood's new village hall |
Urgent talks are set to take place over the future of Borehamwood's village hall, following fears that Hertfordshire County Council is pulling its funding from the project.
At a meeting on Wednesday last week, Hertsmere Borough Council's executive agreed to meet county council officers to consider whether the £4.2 million scheme to rebuild the dilapidated hall is in jeopardy.
Plans to replace the current building, in Shenley Road, with a structure including a library, museum, internet cafe, youth club, day care for the elderly and community rooms were announced last June.
Addressing the meeting, Councillor John Graham, finance and property portfolio holder, said: "The county council's support for this project is critical to its success, but that support is wavering.
"The project is not due to start on site until January 2009, so it may be that the county are simply waiting for further details before going ahead with approval.
"But it is still worrying that it is not included in the 2008/09 budget.
"This project will not be able to progress in its currently envisaged form without the county council's support."
Currently the borough council is set to give between £600,000 and £900,000 towards the project, meaning there would be a substantial deficit if the county cannot provide the remainder of the funding.
Replying to Mr Graham's report, Councillor Ian Feeney said: "It is a huge concern, especially with the way youth provision has gone in Borehamwood with things that have happened to the likes of the Lair youth centre recently and the promises that were made after that was pulled down."
Councillor Jean Heywood, who is both a borough and county councillor, said: "There were five capital projects put before the county council but they had to save £40 million in their budget this year and were not able to support all the capital projects they wanted.
"I am very disappointed as a county councillor because I would have liked to champion this for our borough.
"We do have problems with youth provision here and if we had youth provision in the town centre it would be ideal."
A county council spokeswoman said: "A request for a meeting between the borough council and county council officers and councillors was received this week.
"We are going to arrange this meeting shortly to discuss the matters surrounding the village hall in Borehamwood."
9:12am Sunday 23rd March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Elle, Borehamwood on 10:02pm Sun 23 Mar 08
There is a definate need for more youth facilities in this town but is the middle of Shenley Road such a good idea? There are already problems in that area not just from youths . Why not build a youth club on the site of the old Lair or Maxwell Park that way no one can complain about any noise made.
Maybe the Council can collect some of the cost from the builders who knocked down the Lair when they were not supposed to.
There is a definate need for more youth facilities in this town but is the middle of Shenley Road such a good idea? There are already problems in that area not just from youths . Why not build a youth club on the site of the old Lair or Maxwell Park that way no one can complain about any noise made.
Maybe the Council can collect some of the cost from the builders who knocked down the Lair when they were not supposed to.
Posted by: LAURIE, borehamwood on 8:09am Mon 24 Mar 08
Oh what a surprise,this will never happen Hert's county council are greedy fat cat's who yet again will do down the children of Borehamwood with thier false promises.
I seem to remember this project or some thing very simular was meant to have been built at the Furzehill school site.
All we can do is dream on.
Oh what a surprise,this will never happen Hert's county council are greedy fat cat's who yet again will do down the children of Borehamwood with thier false promises.
I seem to remember this project or some thing very simular was meant to have been built at the Furzehill school site.
All we can do is dream on.
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