Calls for speedy action on North Bersted community centre

Land for a community centre has been put aside in the new site six development of 650 homes which is taking shape north of North Bersted Street.

The building will be constructed by Berkeley Homes as part of the outline permission the company has received for much of the major development.

But fears are growing that talks to determine the exact content of the centre will be held too late to provide the best deal for residents.

Bersted Parish Council has indicated an interest in taking on the community centre. Chairman Cllr Brian Knight told Arun District Council several months ago he wants to meet Berkeley and council officers to discuss how to make progress with the hall.

But he told Bersted's annual meeting of electors he had heard nothing since.

The hall will be the biggest community project which Bersted has seen. The only dimensions laid down in the planning permission, which is based on the government's backing of the development, is that it should be at least the size of two badminton courts.

This is much larger than the parish's existing community building '“ Jubilee Hall, off Chalcraft Lane '“ which was opened in August 1985.

Space for the new centre has been earmarked on the northern edge of the new estate close to the Bognor Regis relief road.

Cllr Knight said: "We want to make the new building the hub of the community in that area. That's why we want to have a meeting with the council and the developers to get the hall that we want.

"We want a centre that's going to be for the community and not just what the developer thinks the community would like. We've already had expressions of interest from potential users of it.

"We would hope that, as well as the main hall, there will be different rooms in the centre which different organisations can have for different purposes.

"We would also like it to have a bar so it will become a true social centre. We would want the centre to be run by a trust, with members of the parish council, the users and the residents as trustees to ensure it reflects the needs of the community."

The council's concern regarding the need to get talking about the building is heightened because the deadline for action is fast approaching.

The outline planning permission between Berkeley and Arun, based on the government's go-ahead, states that the community building has to be finished before the 350th dwelling for sale on the estate is occupied. This is likely to be around the end of 2010/early 2011.

An Arun spokesman said: "The council is currently working with Bersted Parish Council and Berkeley Homes, as well as Felpham Parish Council and Barratt Homes, within that deadline.

"Arun's cabinet will consider a report on May 12 recommending that the two parish councils take on the responsibility of managing the respective community facilities at Bersted and Felpham.

'This approach has also been recommended by the policy site six advisory group, which consists of Arun District Council, West Sussex County Council and the parish councils of Felpham, Bersted and Yapton.'