July 2008 - The Community Centre Needs Your Support!

Representatives from the Countess Wear Community Association and the Countess Wear Village Hall Committee are working together in a Project Development Group to bring YOU a Community Centre serving the whole of Countess Wear.

The group drew up plans that were agreed by all for a new Centre on the tennis courts in King George V Playing Fields which would replace the Village Hall and provide a focus for the community of Countess Wear. A bid was made to The Big Lottery but unfortunately funding was not awarded.

The group has gone back to the drawing board and have now come up with plans for a Community Centre on a site next to the Sports Changing Rooms in the Playing Fields which will provide all the facilities as before but at a lower cost.

(Above) Architects impression of the new centre

(Left) Location plan for new centre in King George V Playing Fields by the car park off Topsham Road.

We want to make sure we have as many residents views as possible about the new centre on this different site before we spend any more money on architects fees, planning permission etc.

So we want to know what you think about the new Community Centre.

Exeter City Council have promised £200,000 towards the Community Centre project but need to be sure that everyone is behind it.

All surveys completed before August 8th will be entered in a draw and there will be £25 of gift vouchers for the first five drawn out of the hat by your local councillor at the Project Development Group meeting to be held in September.(The committees decision will be final. Prizes not redeemable for cash.)

January 2007 - Community Centre Update

The Countess Wear Community Association (CWCA) and the Village Hall Committee have joined forces to work towards a Community Centre for all of Countess Wear. By having the same people on both Committees we are identifying with one objective for the whole community - to secure for Countess Wear, community facilities providing a wide range of activities which will meet local needs within easy reach. Everyone will agree that there is a massive need for a new centre. The loss of the 100 Club for all but young people has left the Glasshouse Lane area with nothing for families and the elderly. The Village Hall in School Lane, whilst busier now than for many years, can not go on much longer in the face of the need to provide access for disabled people, better toilets and kitchen. It has to be modernised or replaced soon. Countess Wear is expanding and the need for community facilities is growing. The elderly form a bigger proportion of the population in Countess Wear (26%) than in Exeter as a whole (21%) which is well above the national average. So the case for a new centre is overwhelming.

Over the last 4 years the Village Hall Committee has been committed to raising funds for new facilities. Up to last year the idea was to replace the Hall on the existing site, but now it is campaigning and fund raising with CWCA for a new centre located where it can serve all of Countess Wear. The Village Hall has proved that a wide range of activities and events such as workshops and entertainments will get the support of the community, but what can be offered is constrained by the limited facilities. Even so, almost £45,000 has been raised to date.

August 2005 - Community Centre Plans

The work towards creating a new community centre for Countess Wear has begun in earnest.

The People

A Project Development Group has been set up by CWCA and the Village Hall to draw up plans, secure the funding and negotiate with Exeter City Council and other bodies. The members of the Group are:

Tim Davies Chairman CWVH
Liz Belchamber CWCA
Tony Bodgin ECC
Steve Deakin ECC
Peter Ingerslev CWVH/CWCA
Barry Mortimer CWCA
Gill Tippins CWVH
Marion Watkins CWVH/CWCA

all are active members in the community.

An architect Mike Evans is helping the group free of charge at present to turn some initial ideas into draft plans for consultation with the community - to get your views.

The Project

The project as developed at this early stage is to build a new Community Centre on the tennis courts (which would be replaced) in King George V Playing Fields behind the Motel.

See the plans below:

Easy, level, well lit pedestrian access is available to this location from all parts of Countess Wear which are no more than 1 km away at the farthest, via the Roundabout and the foot bridge over Bridge Road.

Vehicle access would be from Bridge Road, left turn in and left turn out only via a new road. Some car parking can be provided and it may be possible to create a bus stop in front of the Parks Dept Garage to match the existing one across the Road.

The Centre building at 400 sq metres would be big and flexible enough for a wide range of activities.

A large hall which can also be divided into meeting and class rooms and a retractable stage is proposed.

The seating would be suitable for theatre layout, tables and chairs for events and meetings but also able to be cleared away for indoor sports.

Changing areas and toilets and equipment storage would be included.

A kitchen large enough for functions is considered essential, but as this is not a social club a permanent bar is not, although arrangements to have an occasional bar would be made.

A patio area alongside the hall to link with the playing fields would be useful for fetes.

The aim is to provide for a wide range of activities both through hiring space to external groups and organised directly by the Community Centre.

Parties,
entertainment,
film shows,
indoor sports, (short mat bowls, badminton, table tennis etc,)
community education,
playgroups,
social services /health outreach

are just some.

The Future

Only very rough cost estimates have been made but to do everything envisaged could amount to £700,000.

So it can only happen if we can get a very big grant from the Big Lottery.

The support of the whole Community is vital to achieve this.

It is envisaged that the Centre will be managed and funded once in operation by the Community for the Community.

A Trust and a Community Association representing all Countess Wear will be created for the purpose.

The Village Hall Trust would then be wound up and its assets transferred to the Trust overseeing the new Centre.