Users of a popular community hall in Highbridge have a good reason to smile this week after a deal was struck with Sedgemoor District Council for a new five year lease for the building.
Sedgemoor Community Partnership, which oversees Morland Community Hall in Pearce Drive, announced the good news about the deal during its AGM.
The district council has granted the group a five-year lease for the community buildings – in turn securing a home for the many groups who use the hall including Highbridge Community Youth Club, Highbridge Dog Training Club, Family Connections, Highbridge Dreamscheme, Highbridge Local Action Team, Homes in Sedgemoor and Slimming World.
SCP Chairman Richard Mathews, pictured right, confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We have received official notification from Sedgemoor District Council of their agreement to grant us a further five-year lease for the use of Morland Community Hall. This is great news for the many people and groups who use the hall.”
He added that the SDC have also confirmed that should a controversial multi-million development project go ahead at the site, as first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com in February, the construction of a new Community Hall on land to the northeast side of the existing site will be written in as an ‘Option Agreement’ into the lease.
He added: “Should the option exercised, then SDC will grant a new lease to Sedgemoor Community Partnership in respect of the new Community Hall once it is constructed and ready for ‘fit for purpose’ occupation.”
Among those at the AGM to hear the good news was Sedgemoor Community Partnership President Neville Jones, Trustee Chris Williams, Sedgemoor Community Partnership Chairman Richard Mathews, Highbridge Youth Club Manager Jason Adams and Debs Richardson from The Engine Room.
Jason told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It’s great news that a lease has been agreed. The Youth Club is now looking forward to the future – we have some exciting plans for the year ahead.”
Burnham-On-Sea reported earlier this year that developers Helmglade and Property Link wanted to build up to 60 houses and a 90 bed nursing home as part of a new £6million development on the Morland Industrial Estate, which in turn raised concerns about the future of Morland Community Hall and its groups.
Pictured top are Sedgemoor Community Partnership President Neville Jones, Trustee Chris Williams, Chairman Richard Mathews, Highbridge Youth Club Manager Jason Adams and Debs Richardson from The Engine Room
