Council gives £15k to help community hub set for closure
A community hub threatened with closure following years of deterioration is set for the kiss of life while a future replacement is sought.
Park Wood’s Heather House is home to many active groups such as a bowls club and weightloss programmes, but two broken boilers had almost sealed its fate.
It is understood last month a Maidstone council officer determined the hall should be shut due to £20,000 repair bill.
Now £15,000 is set to be invested to bring the centre back from the brink following a unanimous vote in favour of plans to repair the roof and install a new single boiler.
Maidstone councillors on the communities, housing and environment committee meeting heard how the looming closure, which was scheduled for the end of the month, would impact the area.
Park Wood ward councillor Matt Burton told the committee: “Heather House is situated in one of the most deprived areas in our borough where users don’t have the means to go further afield for such events.
“This saga began with the failure of two boilers in May – before that it was all fine and dandy.
“However, the public percep- tion is Heather House has been allowed by the council to deteriorate for 10 to 15 years, maybe longer.”
Cllr Burton also told councillors of his disappointment surrounding the lack of consultation with club users.
He added: “The true value of Heather House has been ignored in the prospective closure and nobody who truly knows it has been consulted.”
After handing over a petition with 785 signatures, Cllr Burton was pleased to hear money will be available to repair the building, off Bicknor Road, in the short term.
He said: “It was a resounding success, with a unanimous approval for temporary repairs to keep the hall open and a commitment to bring plans before the committee within the coming months for a replacement community facility thereafter.”
Committee chairman John Barned added: “Heather House cannot be lost.
“I am aware plans have been drawn up for a future facility on this site maybe two years away, but in the meantime the council has a duty of care for residents and users.”
He suggested that in the short term the council continues to spend a minimal amount on the venue for essential repairs.