Site has to be ‘fit for the future’

Mid Sussex District Council has responded to Clair Hall being put on the Theatre Trust’s at risk register.

A spokesman said: “The recent public consultation showed that residents have a clear appetite for change on the Clair Hall site, with 95 per cent of respondents wanting modernisation. Only five per cent of residents wanted the building to stay the same. The council is acting on that mandate to ensure Haywards

Heath and the surrounding area has modern, community facilities on the Clair Hall site which are fit for the future.

“A variety of preferences were submitted to the public consultation, ranging from modest refurbishment and structural remodelling of the building through to the creation of a new community building on the site, which is the favoured approach of Haywards Heath Town Council.

“At our cabinet meeting in December, we commissioned detailed, evidence led work to look at all the options and bring forward a proposal to allow the council to invest in the site. This work will clearly include exploring potential funding streams and considering how new community facilities could be run. The council will then be able to invest in the site in order to secure its use for the community for the future.”