November 2024

Since our last update there has been substantial progress and there is an exciting new community centre just ready to take shape. 

The Parish Council has moved very quickly in the face of the impossibility of raising an extra million pounds to complete the first plan. The saga of the cost issues has been well documented in previous updates in the Hardwick Happenings. 

Steps so far 

The PC has invited three architects to submit ideas and costs for a building fitting the  Architect Brief.

The main points in summary were;

• To build a community centre in the space between the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and the existing pavilion building 

• To have a large hall - minimum 15x10 meters (larger than the one in the original plan)

• To include a large 40 cover cafe with outdoor seating space. 

• To have a community meeting room

• To build within our total £1.4 million budget. 

The three submissions were scrutinised by the PC and an architect firm Blue Ink was appointed and are now in the process of developing drawings to fit the brief. 

We think this will be an excellent use of an area of the recreation field that, at the moment, is run down and tired-looking. 

Although this project may take a year or more longer than expected and, inevitably, the new centre will have fewer rooms than the original plan it may be better in other ways. 

Better because it uses a redundant area of the recreation grounds.

Better because it will be within the budget we already have.  

Better because it saves the MUGA. (Now that the MUGA is being retained a start has been made in considering options for its future refurbishment and use.)

Better because it will have a bigger hall, more likely to bring in activity groups for regular daytime classes. 

Better because it still has at least one other meeting size room and a cafe, much needed in the centre of the village. 

Overall we aim to keep the eco credentials we required for the original building. The PC is also looking to cut back a significant amount of the scrub area around the line of trees leading from Egremont Road to the pavilion. This will tidy up that area and add to the grass recreation area fronting Egremont Road.  

The next update will no doubt be to show the new plans to residents and give more details of timescales of what we expect to be an exciting addition to the village. 

Alan West - (on behalf of the Hardwick Community Centre Working Group.)