“As we get closer to delivering a large amount of much-needed money for Hadleigh, it is saddening that the debate around the sale of East House continues to be marked by the constant repetition of myths and inaccuracies."
Cllr Nick Ridley, Babergh’s Strategy Committee Chairman, was speaking in advance of this coming Thursday’s (7th February) meeting of the Committee.
This is expected to give a thumbs up to one of the bidders for East House, a Grade II* listed property that was no longer considered useful for community purposes by Suffolk County Council in 2006 when it did not extend the lease it had on the property.
Cllr Ridley added: “East House contains a warren of small rooms, including a cellar that cannot be used for health and safety reasons. Babergh has pledged that all the proceeds from this sale of East House will be ploughed back both into funding new modern community facilities and in support of the many existing providers in the town – depending upon what local people most prefer."
Cllr Ridley also rebutted a number of myths that have distorted the debate about East House. In particular:
MYTH 1: That East House was given to the people of Hadleigh.
MYTH BUSTED: East House was bought by Hadleigh Urban District Council (not the same as the people of Hadleigh) in 1963, but the property was handed over to Babergh under Local Government Reorganisation 12 years later.
MYTH 2: That Babergh has had a long-term secret plan to sell off East House to developers.
MYTH BUSTED: Actually, Babergh offered to sell the property to Hadleigh Town Council in the 1970s, but the latter turned the offer down. Since then, Babergh has faithfully maintained the property until it had to make the difficult decision to sell it in 2006.
MYTH 3: That East House is a suitable resource to meet a wide range of community needs.
MYTH BUSTED: Suffolk County Council carried out a survey of all of its community buildings and found that East House was the second least efficient one. They felt that they could deliver the same services more effectively in different ways.
“It’s a shame that these myths have been a feature of past debates, but I am hopeful that the Strategy Committee meeting will lay the foundations for a better future for Hadleigh residents of all ages and backgrounds as to the range and modernity of leisure facilities available to them," Cllr Ridley continued.
Once Babergh has approved a purchaser for East House, it is expected that it will receive a planning application in due course. As with every other such planning application, individuals and organisations will be able to make their views known on this application.
In the meantime, Babergh is working with Hadleigh Town Council and South Suffolk Leisure to consult with residents as to the type of facilities they might want at a new community building – some of whose costs would be covered by the proceeds from the sale of East House. ENDS
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