Putting the record straight

Published: 10 September 2024

It has come to our attention that there has been erroneous information posted on social media about the Maude Community Centre and Annexe under construction. The following points will hopefully correct this.

1. The Maude Community Centre Project (formerly Community Hall and Sports Pavilion Project) has been on-going for eight years (commencing in 2016); not 16 years.
2. The Council did not refuse to entertain the idea of a pre-fabricated building; the requested detailed report and costing examples with which to raise an agenda item was never forthcoming.
3. The new buildings are not wood grain buildings; they have a timber frame using the most up to date and long lasting lamination process as are the frames of very many new build buildings.
4. The re-design process took place after it was ascertained that the original design could not be delivered within the Council’s available budget.
5. There was no referendum 10 years ago – the project has only been on-going for eight years; there was, however, a full, door-to-door consultation on whether local residents agreed with taking out a PWLB loan to deliver the community hall / sports pavilion and, in addition to the positive outcome which enabled the Council to evidence the required support and draw down a loan, it was of note, at that time, that a significant number of residents also added that it was important that the existing nursery provision be protected as it is a valuable resource for the Town. The second, smaller building of this project is the Community Centre Annex, which will house (and, therefore, protect the existence of) the on-site nursery – but which will also provide additional community space. The inclusion of the annex building has not incurred over half the cost of the project; by splitting the new facilities into two buildings, the cost has remained broadly the same projected cost as one larger building.
6. Building costs have not more than trebled; the current project is being delivered within the Council’s available budget.
7. There is no Community Hall Committee; there is a Project Steering Group – and all appointed Members of that Steering Group have been invited to every meeting. Whereby one Member has indicated that there is an issue with their email account, their email has been printed out and posted in hard copy in respect of each and every meeting. All Steering Group Members were also provided with a schedule of meeting dates up to the end of 2024 in advance. Again, hard copy was also provided in the case of that one Member. The Clerk sends out the notices of Steering Group Meetings; not the Chairman of the Steering Group. The Chairman has no authority to do so.
8. The original project design would not have cost less than the current design; in fact the outcome of the tendering process shows that the original design was well over budget and could not be delivered.
9. No Member of the Steering Group has ever been excluded by its Chairman; all Members have been invited to every meeting.
10. No Councillor has ever been accused of being a bully for asking questions about this project.

New Romney Town Council