Campaign Launched to Prevent Demolition of Community and Special Needs Resource

Published on: 11 Apr, 2024
Updated on: 11 Apr, 2024

The Lockwood Centre provides SEND support. Here chairman Craig Hills is with Tom & David in the Jellytree Studio.

By Martin Giles

A community resource set up in 1970s and used to provide facilities for SEND (special educational needs and disability) services, described as “vital” by its supporters, is under threat, they say, because Guildford Borough Council wants to replace it with a temporary car park.

Those who oppose demolition of the Lockwood Day Centre in Slyfield Green Industrial Estate have formed a campaign group, the Lockwood Regeneration Consortium (LRC), which aims to not only save the facility but also to realise its wider potential as a community asset “for the benefit of Guildford and beyond”.

According to one of the campaign organisers: “The LRC aims to take on the lease for the Lockwood Centre, maintaining the current council rental income and providing significant additional benefits to the community at no extra cost.”

Asked to comment, a Guildford Borough Council spokesperson said: “We understand that the Lockwood Arts Consortium are sub-tenants of Surrey County Council. We’re in conversation with both parties to help move this situation forward. We are happy to consider any viable commercial proposals.”

Angela Richardson MP visiting the centre in March

But Guildford’s MP, Angela Richardson, says she is “strongly encouraging residents to get involved with this positive campaign and spread the word among our community in Guildford.”

She continued: “Having visited the Lockwood Centre in Slyfield Green Industrial Estate twice last month to discuss Guildford Borough Council’s plans to knock down this popular community asset and replace it with a temporary car park, I am proud to support Lockwood Regeneration Consortium’s ‘Save Our Centre’ campaign.

“This is because the campaign seeks for the centre to serve local people, including SEND & Disability Services, and become an affordable hub for creative industries and innovative start-up businesses. This is a great opportunity to help the Lockwood Centre realise its potential and benefit communities across Guildford by hosting a range of vital services.

“During my visit, Craig Hills, chairman of the Lockwood Regeneration Consortium, informed me that he has been overwhelmed with requests from local people, businesses and community organisations for spaces and opportunities to get involved in the regeneration of the venue.”

The Lockwood Centre in Slyfield

The Lockwood Regeneration Consortium plan is for the centre to continue to serve local people, including SEND & Disability Services, but additionally become an affordable hub for innovative start-up businesses and the creative industries.

Their vision document – Unlocking Community Potential – is available to view here: www.lockwoodarts.org.uk

LRC have presented their proposal to both Guildford Borough Council and Surrey County Council and are now in negotiation with senior representatives of each. They say they are optimistic about the outcome.

Craig Hills, chairman of the LRC, said: “We have been overwhelmed with requests for spaces and opportunities to get involved in the regeneration of the Lockwood Centre from local people, businesses and community organisations.

“We believe that a ‘New Lockwood’ would help unlock the potential of the venue by hosting a range of vital services in the areas of new business enterprise, social care, education, well-being and the arts.

“We want to establish a sustainable venue that offers diverse community purpose and benefit – and the opportunity must be seized now. If there was the will for this to happen at Guildford Borough Council then this could happen easily. The idea that this valuable community resource could soon be reduced to a car park is tragic.”

Responses to Campaign Launched to Prevent Demolition of Community and Special Needs Resource

George Potter Reply

April 11, 2024 at 12:55 pm

More inadequate reporting from The Guildford Dragon NEWS, but I suppose that’s what happens when you make the mistake of assuming a Conservative MP is telling the truth.

Lockwood Arts is a tenant of Surrey County Council, who rent the building from Guildford Borough Council. Surrey County Council have told Guildford that they want to surrender the lease, with vacant possession, which would mean Surrey would evict Lockwood Arts.

Strangely, this key fact is completely missed out of the article, despite the fact that it is only Surrey’s decision to give up their lease which is threatening Lockwood Arts with homelessness in the first place.

Crucially, it means that, contrary to The Dragon’s misleading reporting, Lockwood Arts are not facing potentially losing their home because Guildford wants to turn the building into a car park, they are facing potentially losing their home because Surrey County Council wants to abandon the building without finding a new home for their existing tenants.

All councils are working with Lockwood Arts to see if a solution can be found, but dishonest claims by Guildford’s MP, and misleading reporting by The Dragon, do not help matters.

George Potter is a Lib Dem borough and county councillor

Editor’s response: A press release we had received from the chair of the Lockwood Regeneration Consortium was sent to the GBC Communications Team at 1432 on April 2 requesting a response by 1700 the following day, April 3. The email was acknowledged within minutes. On the following day, April 3, the team apologised but advised us that they were not going to be able to respond by the deadline or that week because the staff involved were on annual leave and that they’d reply as soon as possible the following week. Although we warned that we might proceed with the story, saying that GBC had been invited to comment, competing time pressures meant the story was not published.

On Tuesday, April 9 the following statement was received from GBC Comms: “The Lockwood Centre is a tenant of Surrey County Council. We’re in conversation with both parties to help move this situation forward.” But the team also said that a fuller statement should be available the following day. Having seen the brevity of the first statement, I considered it to be in everyone’s interest to wait for the longer statement and informed the team that I was also going to seek a comment from Angela Richardson MP who had expressed an interest in the case. They seemed already aware.

Later on the same day the slightly longer statement: “We understand that the Lockwood Arts Consortium are sub-tenants of Surrey County Council. We’re in conversation with both parties to help move this situation forward. We are happy to consider any viable commercial proposals” was received, as included in full in our article.

GBC had ample opportunity to comment and fully explain its position. It is a shame they did not do so.
- Angela Richardson Reply
  
  April 13, 2024 at 8:33 am
  
  Cllr Potter [Lib Dem, Burpham] might like to reflect on the wisdom of his accusations towards me of lying, both on social media (which was taken down) and here on The Guildford Dragon NEWS. What he appears to forget is that by extension, he is accusing everyone in the Lockwood Regeneration Consortium of lying too. They have lived this situation for the last year and many people in our Guildford community have become involved in trying to find a resolution.
  
  What is clear is that Guildford Borough Council in trying to optimise its property portfolio, is taking a bulldozer approach to this centre. It has a different sort of value to the community than a temporary carpark.
  
  I will keep working with local partners to see what can be done to promote the ideas of LRC as they are worthy, unlike Cllr Potter’s accusations of lying which are beneath him. Perhaps he might like to meet with LRC and help. Perhaps we might hear from the councillors who represent this area, but given the wall of silence for such a long time now, I won’t hold my breath.
  
  Angela Richardson is the Conservative MP for Guildford
- Mark Butler Reply
  
  April 15, 2024 at 7:51 pm
  
  There’s a clear choice for Cllr Potter, Guildford Borough Council can support the Lockwood Centre and all the great work it’s done over the years, or not
  
  Rather than throw accusations around, which will it be? If the council choose to support the Lockwood Centre councillors will demonstrate they care about the community and consider the future properly, rather than looking to make a quick buck. If the council decide to evict or move those who perform a very important role for vulnerable citizens, Guildfordians will have to carefully consider who they elect.
  
  My understanding of the situation is, Surrey County Council are handing back power to GBC, therefore the decision completely rests with them. How are they going to look after the borough, the borough they’ve been entrusted with?
  
  When are GBC going to respond properly?
M Durant Reply

April 12, 2024 at 12:45 am

Let’s hope it can be saved, it is a community asset. Creative activities improve mental health, self-esteem, a sense of achievement, annd counter isolation.

It is a good idea to turn it into a hub for the creative industries and start-ups, maybe they should link up with Oakleaf Enterprise as well.
David Smith Reply

April 13, 2024 at 7:17 am

I think perhaps George Potter is missing the point. Usually when a tenant terminates their interest in a property the Landlord can deal direct with the sub tenant and grant a lease to them. If this is not possible as the building is being knocked down the surely Guildford Borough Council have to take some sort of responsibility.

Equally, if the building was needed as part of the redevelopment and GBC served notice on SCC I don’t think it would be up to SCC to find the Lockwood Centre a new home.
Nigel Keane Reply

April 13, 2024 at 12:24 pm

Maybe George Potter should try and earn a few Brownie Points for the Lib-Dems in this Election Year by supporting the Lockwood Centre in a grant of tenancy by GBC.

Selling off the family silver is a short-sighted approach for trying to re-coup losses as once the money gained has gone there is nothing else left. Assets should not be sold off.

Also, let’s have a bit of consensus and co-operation between various political parties, after all I think everyone in Guildford must be fed up with the Blame Culture by now.
Amanda Creese Reply

April 13, 2024 at 6:27 pm

I am one of the councillors representing the Bellfields and Slyfield ward in which the Lockwood Centre sits. I will do all I can to support the plans of the Lockwood Regeneration Consortium and its ambitions to provide spaces for the creative industries and business start ups. And to do it by retrofitting the building to contribute to the boroughs net Zero Targets. It would also be a wonderful opportunity for all political parties to come together to support something positive for the ward and Guildford.

Amanda Creese is a Labour borough councillor