Letter: I Will Continue to Defend Village Hall Rebuild Plans

Published on: 18 Aug, 2018
Updated on: 18 Aug, 2018

The KGV Hall and playing fields.

From Liz Hogger

Lib Dem borough councillor for Effingham and parish councillor

In response to: Effingham Eye: A Parish Council Meeting To Forget

As Chris Dick says in his report on the “Village Hall Rebuild”, I did indeed defend the “early rushed plans” for the KGV, and I continue to do so.

Those plans led directly to the provision of £2.645 million for the KGV rebuild following the disappointing decision by the Secretary of State to allow the planning appeal by Berkeley Homes and the Howard of Effingham School.

The plans and associated costings provided essential evidence to persuade both Berkeley Homes and the planning inspector that major improvements were needed to enable the KGV to cater for the 30% increase in the village population resulting from the 295 extra homes allowed at appeal.

Effingham Parish Council was given legal advice that without such evidence we could expect around £60,000 to be agreed by way of Section 106 funding, completely inadequate to help EVRT maintain facilities at the 50-year-old building.

Parish councillors worked closely with EVRT to develop the KGV plans to a very tight timescale dictated by the imminent public inquiry. The parish council, as a Rule 6 party at the inquiry with barrister representation, was able to insist that the Section 106 legal agreement signed during the Inquiry allows the KGV plans to be varied.

This means that EVRT can now adjust the plans as they think best following a thorough consultation with KGV user groups including all Effingham residents.

I don’t accept that these initial plans were not well-received, as Mr Dick asserts. As an EVRT trustee at the time, as well as a parish councillor, I saw a very positive response from user groups and residents alike to the KGV rebuild plans. That is unsurprising, since those initial plans include extra rooms for general community use, full disabled access to the first floor, modern changing rooms and shower facilities designed to meet Sports England standards, and increased car-parking.

The aim is to turn the “sporting half of the KGV building” into a modern flexible space accessible to the whole community as well as the sports clubs. We are optimistic that with the help of grants to supplement the Section 106 funding, it may now be possible to replace the whole building to provide the excellent facilities Effingham residents want in the 21st century.

I was disappointed by the Effingham Eye’s down-beat report of the KGV rebuild discussion at the parish council meeting. The fact is that this is a wonderful opportunity for the village, but also a huge challenge for the hard-working volunteer EVRT trustees. I felt these issues were thoroughly and seriously addressed by parish councillors and the EVRT Chairman.

I know the parish council is seeking to provide any assistance the EVRT trustees may require, including if they wish to help with a full Effingham-wide consultation to find out what facilities residents would like to see in the KGV rebuild. Speaking as a borough and parish councillor, and no longer as an EVRT trustee, I will do everything in my power to assist the trustees in their task.