News, sport and entertainment from the Bournemouth Echo and Dorset Echo.

Verwood hall fight hots up

From the Echo, first published Thursday 25th Jan 2001.

BATTLE lines are being drawn in the countdown to the parish poll in Verwood on the siting of the proposed community centre.

A fighting fund has been set up by the Verwood Community Centre Action Group established by 75 volunteers after a stormy public meeting in the town recently.

They want to put the community centre on land at Bakers Farm as originally planned by site landowners East Dorset District Council.

However, after a change of ruling party and a review of the costs involved, the district together with the town council has opted to build the centre as a replacement to the ageing Memorial Hall on the Recreation Ground in the middle of the town. They claim the new facility would still be a memorial to those who lost their lives in the Second World War but bigger and better equipped to serve the town's needs.

The town council is now urging people to visit the plans and a model of the proposed replacement Memorial Hall facility currently on display in its offices before polling day.

Action group spokesman Phil Irving said: "A fighting fund has been set up and donations can be made to the offices of Irving and Sons in the centre of town.

"Having fought to ensure the people of Verwood will have their say on the controversial proposal, the Action Group is determined that all of the facts will be made available before the poll takes place."

In a statement the town council said: "The original idea that the Bakers Farm site would encompass all the civic buildings was in line with the views of the townspeople. However because of the protracted negotiations and ensuing high cost of the land, East Dorset council with limited capital was forced to review its proposal.

"The favoured location was to rebuild the Memorial Hall on the Recreation Ground.

The parish poll takes place on February 15.

Archive Home