Former school will make way for arts centre and homes in Boscombe
2:00pm Thursday 21st July 2011
- Comments(4)
PLANS to transform a former school into an arts centre and family homes have been approved despite residents’ fears they will create a “ghetto” in Boscombe.
Civic chiefs met yesterday morning to resolve the long debate over the future of the Bournemouth Centre for Community Arts (BCCA)
site, in Haviland Road.
But the cabinet dismissed fears that construction of 14 affordable family homes and an arts and culture hub in two listed classrooms on the site would lead to the creation of an enclave. Instead,
it insisted the introduction of families would increase a sense of community in the area and contribute to its regeneration. Representing local residents at the cabinet meeting Sara Hayes, who has
lived in Haviland Road for 26 years, said: “I’m absolutely horrified, shocked and angry at the prospect of 14 houses being built on the site.
“None of us can understand how they can all fit on the site, it’s not a big site. It will become another enclave and turn into a ghetto.”
Council leader Cllr Peter Charon recognised that there is a disproportionate amount of rented accommodation in the west of Boscombe and insisted safeguards would be employed to prevent future
owners transforming the new homes into multiple rented bedsits.
Earlier a deputation from the Friends of BCCA, who have campaigned for years to transform the site into a community centre, had asked the cabinet to reconsider the plans to reduce the communal
space available for people from 20 rooms to just two.
Representing the group Linda Ni’Man claimed that with sufficient space an arts and culture hub at the site could help “reinstate visible signs of community,” as well as providing a catalyst for
regenerating the area. She explained that the BCCA could become a flagship for creative industries.
Comments(4)
<!–charliefarlie, says… //–>
charliefarlie, says…
3:18pm Thu 21 Jul 11
My neighbour tells me this was a former school in the early 1960’s. Then for 40 years it was the Bournemouth Centre for Community Arts, why does the Echo describe it as a former school in their headline – there was a lot of anger when the Council wanted to demolish it before?
Its a real shame to reduce any community centre to 2 rooms – can’t see the point of 2 rooms being kept.
<!–bccafriends, Bournemouth says… //–>
bccafriends, Bournemouth says…
4:09pm Thu 21 Jul 11
We have had in excess of 350 emails and phone calls in regard to recent articles in the Echo. The situation is that B’mth Council has agreed in principle with Bournemouth 2026 to form a Community Land Trust to aid first time buyers to buy affordable homes.
The Council have offered us the 2 Listed rooms on the BCCA site for a community Hub to aid creative industries in Boscombe. The Council’s commissioned report states the 2 rooms require £73,000 spent on them plus VAT to put in central heating, lighting, toilets, etc., and does not include costs to aligned with Fire Regulations and Disabled Access Regulations or to put in a reception/office area to make it useable as a hub. We don’t know the additional costs yet for an architect and surveyor’s fees or builder’s costs for this part of the work – or the cost to comply with various Regulations – all of which BCCA Friends would have to find.
At yesterday’s meeting we informed the Cabinet that financial projections for the running costs for 2 rooms – based on comparable local hire charges – and to include staff costs, insurance, maintenance, gas, phone, etc. – would place outgoings at £70,000 per year, with a maximum income (if it was hired out every session, every day of the year) at £30,400. This would leave a deficit year on year of £39,600. We also explained that even if outgoings were halved – which would put staff working below the minimum wage – we would still be in deficit of £4,600 year on year. We explained that 2 rooms are not therefore a financially sustainable option we can accept. We would need far more space to make the hub financially viable.
Affordable housing for first time buyers is necessary, however, we hope that the Council will consider reducing the amount of houses on the site from 14 to allow us to have more space.
We stated that we are “open to compromise” and wish to have discussions with the Council.
Leader of the Council, Cllr. Peter Charon stated that Council Officers would work with us to find how we could make the 2 rooms financially viable. We await Council officers contacting us to arrange a meeting.
We are hopeful that once we meet with Council officers that a compromise might be reached.
We have had in excess of 350 emails and phone calls in regard to recent articles in the Echo. The situation is that B’mth Council has agreed in principle with Bournemouth 2026 to form a Community Land Trust to aid first time buyers to buy affordable homes.
The Council have offered us the 2 Listed rooms on the BCCA site for a community Hub to aid creative industries in Boscombe. The Council’s commissioned report states the 2 rooms require £73,000 spent on them plus VAT to put in central heating, lighting, toilets, etc., and does not include costs to aligned with Fire Regulations and Disabled Access Regulations or to put in a reception/office area to make it useable as a hub. We don’t know the additional costs yet for an architect and surveyor’s fees or builder’s costs for this part of the work – or the cost to comply with various Regulations – all of which BCCA Friends would have to find.
At yesterday’s meeting we informed the Cabinet that financial projections for the running costs for 2 rooms – based on comparable local hire charges – and to include staff costs, insurance, maintenance, gas, phone, etc. – would place outgoings at £70,000 per year, with a maximum income (if it was hired out every session, every day of the year) at £30,400. This would leave a deficit year on year of £39,600. We also explained that even if outgoings were halved – which would put staff working below the minimum wage – we would still be in deficit of £4,600 year on year. We explained that 2 rooms are not therefore a financially sustainable option we can accept. We would need far more space to make the hub financially viable.
Affordable housing for first time buyers is necessary, however, we hope that the Council will consider reducing the amount of houses on the site from 14 to allow us to have more space.
We stated that we are “open to compromise” and wish to have discussions with the Council.
Leader of the Council, Cllr. Peter Charon stated that Council Officers would work with us to find how we could make the 2 rooms financially viable. We await Council officers contacting us to arrange a meeting.
We are hopeful that once we meet with Council officers that a compromise might be reached.
<!–charliefarlie, says… //–>
charliefarlie, says…
4:17pm Thu 21 Jul 11
Phew!!! bccafriends……..t
here’s a lot here!!!….350 emails eh…thought I could hear the jungle drums beating. Not joking. Questions.
Where will you get in excess of £73,000 from?
Will B’mth Council give you the money?
They have just shut down day centres.
They are paying more for the reef.
Council workers are being made redundant.
What would you put on the BCCA site in Boscombe if you had all the site – or more of it?
<!–bccafriends, Bournemouth says… //–>
bccafriends, Bournemouth says…
4:56pm Thu 21 Jul 11
To answer “charliefarlie’s
questions:
1. Where would we get in excess of £73,000 from? We would have to be able to convince funders (charities etc.) that the money is necessary in order to provide something, which will benefit the community.
2. We have never sought funding from B’mth Council
3. We planned to have facilities to attract tourists into the centre of Boscombe (which would aid the shops) and to act as a catalyst to Boscombe’s creative industries and to benefit the whole community. The list is pretty long but a sample is:
. Community cinema/film club
· Conference space
. Auctions and antique fairs
. Textiles, fashion recycled workshops
. Fashion shows
. Online tourism aid
. Theatre space
. Gym
. Garden club
. Wood workshop/furniture group
. Bicycle workshop – repairs/design
. Music recording studio
. Crèche
. Visual arts and crafts
. Education/mentoring
. Kitchen – healthy food on a budget…..and a lot more
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