Council rejects community bid for events venue

A community bid to buy or lease an events venue has been turned down by the local council.

The bid for Clair Hall from the Haywards Heath Community Interest Company (CIC) was dismissed during a meeting of the Mid Sussex District Council cabinet on Monday.

Instead, an unnamed cultural company will redevelop the site to provide a four-screen cinema, alongside a multi-use performance space.

Robert Eggleston, leader of the council said: "I am confident we have made the right decision for the site, residents and the future of Haywards Heath."

The venue has been under scrutiny since the council decided to close it in 2020 and consultants have told the council that it will take £2.2m over the next five years just to bring it up to scratch, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In November, the site was listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), meaning the council had to give community interest groups the opportunity to place a bid.

The CIC did just that, aiming to use it as a multi-use civic and cultural hub, backed by a £777,000 "gift from a local benefactor".

It proposed two options – buying the venue outright or leasing it from the council.

The property was valued at between £1m and £4m, depending on what it was used for.

If the council had decided to accept the offered £777,000, the decision would have had to be cleared by the Secretary of State.

Mr Eggleston said: "We understand the disappointment of some community groups, but the ACV proposal was not financially viable."

The council is also seeking a development partner to deliver housing on part of the site.

Marion Wilcock, of the CIC, described the situation as "frustrating".

When asked what the group's next steps would be, she said: "There are a number of unresolved statements and things which we will be following up.

"There are various angles and approaches we can take.

"Are we going to explore every one? Yes we are."

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