Reigate & Banstead Borough Council confirmed today that two key sites in Redhill town centre remain earmarked for community facilities, allaying fears that the now-closed facilities would be replaced by housing.
The two sites concerned, namely the Colebrook Centre on Noke Drive and Longmead Adult Education Centre on Holland Close, are currently designated for community facilities and remain so in draft plans for Redhill town centre which were consulted upon last year, although there was also support for including other uses on the sites in addition to the community facilities.
Cllr Mike Miller, Executive Member for Planning, Transport and Housing, said:
“Both of the sites are well-located, sustainable sites in Redhill town centre. The draft Action Plan earmarks them primarily for community use and perhaps some housing and other uses. It is too early to know whether all of the buildings currently on the sites would be demolished; this is largely a matter for the County Council, which owns both sites. I understand that the current buildings on the sites suffer from significant health and safety problems.”
Cllr Julian Ellacott, councillor for Redhill West, said:
“I and my Redhill colleagues have made clear our view that these sites should remain designated for community facilities, and it is welcome to have the position confirmed.
“Discussions have taken place in the recent past about making either or both sites into a “community hub”, where a number of local voluntary and community bodies could come together under one roof. I very much hope that we can achieve something along these lines on these sites, although it will be difficult to make progress with this in the current economic circumstances.”
Further information on the most recent proposals for each site, based on the 2009 Preferred Options, can be found at in the RAAP Preferred Options document (Colebrook on page 6, Longmead on page 25).
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