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Save
Weybridge Hall - Residents Offer To Run The Hall But No Reply
Received
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If you think local community activities
& facilities are important, please help now to Save Weybridge Hall
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Local Residents Offer To Run Weybridge Hall
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A group of local residents has offered to run
the threatened Weybridge Hall in order to avoid
its closure. |
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Although Weybridge Hall is a vital community
facility in the town centre, Elmbridge Borough
Council has withdrawn funding for the Hall and
is requiring all its users to move to
alternative venues. Old folks’ groups, toddlers’
groups and community dance classes, amongst
others, are struggling to find suitable
alternatives. |
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the Council has said it will consult once the
Hall is empty of users, local residents fear
that the Hall is destined for closure. |
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Over 1,000 people have now signed a petition
asking the Council to stop its plans until it
has consulted with the local community and Max
Clifford, the well-known PR consultant, has
offered financial support for the Hall. Despite
this, the Council has refused to delay its
plans. |
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As each week passes, more users are unwillingly
giving up their use of the Hall, worried that
they will have nowhere else to go when the
Council finally forces them out. A group of
concerned residents has written to the Council
to offer to run the Hall, fearing that the Hall
has no future if the local community does not
get involved. |
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Jennifer Doyle, chairwoman of Friends of
Weybridge Hall, says,
“We’ve written to the
Council with a formal offer to run the Hall. We
have asked the Council to let us know if they’ll
discuss this offer with us by Thursday 24 March.
Although we’ve heard nothing from them yet,
we’re hopeful that the Council will welcome the
offer.” |
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The local information website
www.allaboutweybridge.co.uk has
further information on the feared closure of the
Hall and a link to a petition for local
residents to express their concerns about the
plans. |
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Further Information & Help - Contact Friends Of
Weybridge Hall: |
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Please contact Jennifer Doyle on (0788) 054 2200
or
jenny.doyle29@yahoo.co.uk |
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Main Page for Save Weybridge
Hall: |
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For earlier press releases by Friends Of
Weybridge Hall and former Mayor Graham Winton
who runs Weybridge Old Folks Club use the
folowing link:
Save Weybridge Hall |
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Online Petition - Have Your Say |
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A petition for local
residents to express their concerns about the
plans is available at
www.ipetitions.com/petition/weybridge_hall
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Tell A Friend Or Local Organisation |
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There are many people
who would support the campaign if they knew the
details. Please send them an email now:
Click here - includes a link to
campaign page |
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Friends Of Weybridge Hall Letter To Cllr Simon Dodsworth
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Utilisation figures, viable
alternatives & consultation process are
questioned as
Friends Of Weybridge Hall
ask for discussions about the future of
the hall
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"Local businesses and
community groups have been ignored
throughout the Council's decision-making
process"
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| This letter is in
response to Cllr Simon Dodsworth's letter of 27
March (below) |
| 28 March 2011 |
| Dear Councillor Dodsworth |
| I refer to your piece in
'In Touch' regarding Weybridge Hall and your
recent correspondence to local residents in
connection with that article and the Hall
itself. I wish to clarify a few points with you: |
| 1. I note your
acknowledgment that your reference in 'In Touch'
to all events being easily accommodated in the
Day Centre was an editorial error. However, your
intended amendment is regrettably incorrect.
Indeed, adult education classes have been forced
to relocate to Whiteley Village and Addlestone
next term due to unsuitable
facilities/availability within Weybridge itself. |
| 2. I am rather confused
about your statement in 'In Touch' that the Hall
is only at 20% capacity (or 25%, as you have
stated in a direct email to a resident). 20%
utilisation requires the Hall to be available
for hire 28 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Friends of Weybridge Hall calculate usage to be
approximately 70%. |
| 3. I was interested to
learn that questionnaires were sent to all
regular hirers of the Hall in February. However,
having spoken with a number of hirers who use
the Hall on a weekly basis, they have not
received the questionnaires. Local businesses
and community groups have been ignored
throughout the Council's decision-making
process. |
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The continuing uncertainty regarding the Hall's
future serves no-one. I do hope the Council
expedites its decision regarding the community's
offer. I fail to see how 'in principle'
discussions about this offer must be mutually
exclusive to the selective consultation exercise
currently taking place. |
| Yours sincerely |
| Jennifer Doyle |
| Chairwoman of Friends of
Weybridge Hall |
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Cllr Simon Dodsworth Letter to
M. McTague
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| This letter is in
response to M McTague's letter of 21
March (below) and points raised in this are
questioned by Friends Of Weybridge Hall in the
letter by Jennifer Doyle (above) |
| 27 March 2011 |
| Dear Mrs McTague, |
| Thank you for your
email. |
| Indeed you are correct,
and I must apologise to you that the draft that
went to print for the In Touch did not have my
drafted correction that 'the events can be
easily accommodated at the Day Centre or other
community facilities close by'. There was a time
pressure to meet certain rules and our usually
robust editorial process did not pick up this
important correction. |
| We have a number of
facilities available, which are either run by
Elmbridge / Surrey or by other community groups
with five within 250 metres of WH. No notice has
been given to any Hirers of the Weybridge Hall. |
| I am not sure how aware
you are of all the discussions taking place
between regular Hirers and council officers to
accommodate the needs of each group. Of the 14
regular Hirers, 11 have responded positively to
a questionnaire and subsequent dialogue. Our
officers have also been undertaking detailed
consultation with all Hirers as to the
suitability of facilities nearby and
understanding the requirements of the users.
This includes the two groups that affect your
family. Discussions have been very positive for
the most part, with many Hirers now believing
that the alternatives available are in fact
superior to those being used at present, and
with only 25% utilisation of the Weybridge Hall,
we need to explore alternative arrangements for
existing Hirers in order that the longer term
opportunities for the Weybridge Hall can be
discussed without unnecessary and extended
uncertainty for some of the more vulnerable
members of our society. |
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It has indeed been at the request of Cllr
Dearlove and myself to officers, via the
portfolio holders responsible for the Weybridge
Hall, to ensure we are fully discussing the
needs of the Hirers, and not taking steps
without dialogue and agreement. As you would
expect, a key component of this is the
requirements for floor surface, access and
compatability with either other facility users,
or exclusive bookings as some Hirers are
seeking. |
| I thank you for bringing
your concerns to my attention; I can assure you
we are looking to ensure the minimum of
disruption takes place to Hirers and Weybridge
Hall users. Equally, we are looking to ensure
the facilities we have are being utilised to
their maximum effect across the borough, and to
ensure the council tax payers are obtaining the
very best value from the council services. |
| Kind regards, |
Cllr Simon
Dodsworth
Weybridge South Ward
&
Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Regulatory
Affairs |
sdodsworth@elmbridge.gov.uk
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| Tel: 07904 392223 |
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Letter From
Weybridge Resident M. McTague To Cllr Simon Dodsworth
(who voted for withdrawing funds)
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| 21 March 2011 |
| Dear Mr. Dodsworth |
| I am writing to correct
you following the receipt of the ‘In Touch’
leaflet and your comments regarding Weybridge
Hall. |
| On page 2 para. 4 col. 2
you are quoted as stating that ‘All the events
can be easily be accommodated at the Day centre’
This is not correct, my son (2) attends Socatots
and my daughter (4) Ballet both taking place
weekly in the Hall during term time. Neither of
which can possibly take place in the day centre
with its a carpeted floor. |
| May I respectfully
suggest that you visit the facilities and
actually speak to those using them before making
incorrect statements in defence of their
closure. |
| The closure of the
Weybridge Hall will leave our family no option
but to travel by car to alternative venues
contributing to congestion and the environmental
concerns. |
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I trust in democracy and I am sure that the
conservative party will either listen to the
electorate before making decisions on our
behalf, or be out of government at the next
election. |
| Yours Sincerely |
| Maria McTague |
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More Comments From Some Of The Save Weybridge Hall Petitioners
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| "This is a
well used, well appreciated facility which no
caring council would take away from the local
people. Born in Weybridge I have had cause to
use the hall many, many times. If there is a
justifiable reason for the councils action then
the respect that people deserve demands that
they be told what is intended for the hall. " |
| Dianne Grant
on Mar 14, 2011 |
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| "This
is a fabulous building that provides the
facility for many local residents to get
together for a number of activities. It is a
valuable asset to the Elmbridge community that
should be preserved and supported. " |
| Ann
South on Mar 14, 2011 |
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| "Weybridge
needs a hall, and with a little sensible
thinking the existing hall could pay it's way!." |
| Gill
Fellows on Mar 11, 2011 |
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"This Hall is a fabulous asset for the
community and should be retained for its use ." |
| Pauline
Wood on Mar 11, 2011 |
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| "Here we go
again - can afford £450,000 to enhance Walton
High Street (will this bring shoppers into the
High Street I doubt it) but getting rid of
beautiful historic old buildings that are still
regularly used, local libraries etc (unless
volunteers step in!) is OK. I think this council
have lost the plot..." |
| June
Byrne on Mar 11, 2011 |
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| "The hall
serves a vital role in the community! It is a
large hall with good facilities and , unusually,
is central to the town." |
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Debbie Groves on Mar 9, 2011
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| "I support
this campaign to keep the very old and very
useful Weybridge Hall. It should be kept for use
by our Community for their very important
activities for all ages, young and old, to
enjoy. " |
| Mary
Edward on Mar 9, 2011 |
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lots more comments from concerned and angry
residents -
see the online petition |
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Have You Had Your Say Yet?
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Please take a few minutes to support the
campaign |
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What can you do? |
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Email the
powers that be at Elmbridge
Council now
(details at top right of this page). |
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Sign the
petition at
www.ipetitions.com/petition/weybridge_hall |
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