Temporary Aggie Club is Looking Good say Councillors

Published on: 22 Mar, 2023
Updated on: 21 Mar, 2023

A temporary building to house Bellfield’s Aggie Club, which opened in February, has received a visit from a party of Guildford Borough Councillors.

The building is 100 yards from the Aggie Club’s previous building, the name deriving from the club of the Stoke & District Horticultural Society.

It is a duel community centre and social club, and as proclaimed by the borough council is “the first step in the multi-million-pound regeneration of Weyside Urban Village”.

All smiles down at the Aggie Club in Bellfields.

The leader of Guildford Borough Council and and lead councillor for housing and communities, Julia McShane said: “It was a pleasure to see the new Aggie Club and meet members of the committee.

“It’s a great space for the whole community to come together. Spaces like this are an important focal point for community activities. Creating new places to benefit residents is at the heart of the Weyside Urban Regeneration.”

The council’s press release of the councillors’ visit states that the main hall of the club has capacity for 120 guests. It has a flexible event space with stage area, a members’ bar, and a kitchen for the club’s popular café. Built using energy efficient technology, the new building has a much lower environmental impact than before.

The council’s lead councillor for regeneration, John Rigg, added: “Providing a temporary community centre for the Aggie Club is an important milestone in our extensive regeneration plans for Weyside Urban Village.

“This regeneration is one of the most exciting of its kind in Surrey. The project will create new communities, new homes, and job opportunities. It will help the economic vibrancy of Guildford and support many of the leading institutions and businesses based in our borough.

“More than 1,500 homes are planned over the next decade to help meet the need for more housing in the borough. 40% of the new homes will be affordable. The development will also provide new community and healthcare facilities, shops, and employment space, alongside transport improvements and significant biodiversity gains.

“The opening of the new club coincides with planning consent to move our Woking Road Depot. A new council depot will improve the efficiency of services that we provide to the community and improve the working environment for our staff.”

A permanent building for the Aggie Club will also be built later in the development programme.

The temporary club is available for community bookings. Club secretary Tasha Lucas said: “Our new centre is proving very popular. We have already received lots of new enquiries for events and weddings.

“The Aggie Club has been part of the local community for over 50 years. We look forward to welcoming new members and supporting our community for many years to come.”