St Chad’s Parish Church Poulton-le-Fylde   Hall Redevelopment Notes   It seems appropriate to attempt to bring readers up to date with how matters stand regarding the redevelopment of the Church Hall and Tennis Club Site, as it might at first sight appear that not a great deal has been going on.   At a special meeting held at the end of September last year, the PCC confirmed its agreement to the arrangements negotiated through the Hall Redevelopment Group with Rushcliffe Healthcare Ltd. In summary the PCC land required for the Health Centre would be leased to Rushcliffe for 125 years at a commencing rent of £62,500 per annum which would increase at 3% per annum and also be subject to periodic review. Rushcliffe would also demolish the existing Church Hall and build a new one at their cost on a portion of the land to be retained by the PCC.   The PCC discussed other ideas for the design of the Hall, including having the main Hall at first floor level, and not having an open space above the entrance area, but these ideas were not carried. Some other amendments to the plan were however sought, including increasing the size of the kitchen and moving the staircase “Outwards” and these have been incorporated in the latest design, the plans for which have been on display in Church for some time.   The development company did submit a planning application in June for the whole project, including three new multi-use courts on the field of St Chad’s school and a complete makeover of the park. Subsequently, at the behest of the planners it was amended to include a reversal of the one way traffic system in Poulton and other adjustments. This matter, not required in any way as part of the scheme proved very controversial, and the planning application was withdrawn in December.   At this point in time we are waiting for Rushcliffe to submit a new planning application. We understand that they are waiting for Wyre Borough Council’s own Parks Department to come up with what improvements they wish to have made to the park as part of the scheme. We understand that the size of the Health Centre will be reduced from the previous plan, that a smaller area of the park will be taken up than before (2 ½% instead of 5%) and that there will be no alterations to the existing traffic system except for the possibility of introducing another set of traffic lights to regulate traffic flow. In addition, the developer will construct two new tennis courts, one of which will be indoors at the Moorland Tennis Club, who have indicated that following completion of these new facilities they would offer membership to all the current members of St Chad’s Tennis Club. The developer has been active in attempting to make the arrangements between the tennis clubs but this has not proved an easy task.   The PCC has had to take legal advice concerning the way in which St Chad’s Tennis Club presently occupies the existing courts and pavilion. A previous attempt made by the Diocesan Solicitor, at the time when the land was being administered by the Diocese, to establish a formal lease did not proceed to fruition. As things stand at the moment the Tennis Club have been given formal notice to vacate the site as at 31st March 2009, but with an offer that they may continue to use the courts until the new ones are completed at Moorland. This arrangement has yet to be formally agreed.   If the overall scheme does proceed there are very significant benefits for the Church, in that not only will it provide a new Hall of a standard that would otherwise be beyond our means, but it would also provide a sizeable rental income. Whilst the new Hall will have its own income from lettings, the additional income would for example enable the employment of a full time supervisor and perhaps a surplus available for other Church Activities. Those funds already raised towards the Hall will be utilised in its fitting out to a good standard. Robert Sly