marilyn wrote on 17. Jul 2010 at 12:18:


Technically the small hall is part of the Community Centre so isn't it up to the Community Association to determine it's use?

Marilyn may recall that at the Community Association meeting which she refers to; it was the School's Head Teacher who stated that the School needed to expand in order to cope with the anticipated increase in pupil numbers, should the next phase of Cotford St Luke ever be built.

At the meeting; the Chairman also stated that in the Consultation Document (publicly available from TDBC), there was the suggestion that the present Village Hall would be expanded, if the next phase of the village was ever built.  The Chairman also confirmed that no one from TDBC had approached the Association to ascertain if this was what the village wanted.  The Chairman then went on to say that the Community Association would prefer to have a standalone Village Hall for the village's benefit.

I seem to recall that a suggestion was also made at the meeting that the Association should purchase Orchard Lodge.  At that time; the asking price for Orchard Lodge was £850,000 + the Lodge is a grade 2 listed building and the ongoing maintenance costs would be horrendous.  So the Chairman quite rightly stated that the Association would not commit itself to such expenditure; nor burden itself with the future maintenance costs of a grade 2 listed building.

With regards to the ballroom in the Old Hospital Building.  The original plan for Cotford St Luke laid down by SCC showed the ballroom being designated as the Village Hall.  For various reasons (not known to me) that plan was abandoned and SCC/TDBC decided that a co-located School and Village Hall was their preferred option.  Approximately £500,000 which came from the Section 106 monies (the housing developer's contributions) and money raised by the Community Association; contributed towards the cost of building the School and Village Hall.

As far as I know; no official offer has been made by SCC Education Department to buy the Association out of the Village Hall.  No doubt the minimum asking price the Association would be asking for; for vacating the Village Hall would be £500,000.  However in this age of austerity and government cutbacks; it is highly unlikely that SCC Education Department would even be thinking of making such an offer now or in the future.  The Coalition Government is asking all councils to make cut backs; not spend money!

Marilyn seems to think that she is not a member of the Community Association.  Perhaps she should read the Association's Constitution?  Anyone who lives in Cotford St Luke is automatically a member of the Association - every adult and child who live in our fantastic village.

Finally; please support your Assocation's General Committee.  Presently; it is made up of volunteers who work very hard and give their time freely; on your behalf.  Over the years; many villager's have volunteered to sit on the General Committee.  Thanks to them and today's volunteers, many issues have been resolved.  It is very easy to criticise volunteers who do their best for all of us.  Remember - vounteers have feelings and some of the criticisms over the years have been very hurtful and uncalled for.  Without the volunteers; this village would not be where it is today.

Flarion wrote on 25. Jul 2010 at 13:34:


I think I phrased it incorrectly - I was replying to Tj's post where he or she was speaking about the Community Association determining the use of the hall. I meant that I am not a member of the Community Association's General Committee.

I hadn't realized there was an Association's Constitution for residents to read;  please could someone kindly pm me and let me know where I can obtain a copy?

Thank you. 

marilyn wrote on 25. Jul 2010 at 18:57:


If anyone from the Community Association's General Committee is reading this, could they please answer this query?

Thank you.   

Thank you so much, Joy!

I have tried to access the Community Association website (for your e-mail address) but a message says that website is unavailable at present.

I will send you a personal message on here with my e-mail address. 

Thank you, Joy, for sending the copy of the Constitution to me.   

I have just replied to your e-mail and wondered if this document could be displayed on the Community Association's web site for residents to read.