People in Haywards Heath to be consulted over future of Clair Hall site

Clair Hall closed in March because of the Covid pandemic and - amid public anger - Mid Sussex District Council decided last month to permanently shut the building.

But the council confirmed today that it is to have talks with community groups this autumn and winter ‘to help inform the next steps for community facilities and the town’s wider regeneration.’

The council says ‘structured engagement’ with the groups will be conducted by an independent organisation.

A spokesman said: “It will help the council gain a richer understanding of the current and future community needs which will be added to the data the council already holds.

“The outcome of this engagement work will inform projects including the provision of modern community facilities, the future of the Clair Hall site and the wider Haywards Heath Masterplan.

“The independent structured engagement will work with past users of Clair Hall and the wider community.”

The councikl says that there were already problems with Clair Hall before its closure and that the building was ‘in dangerof becoming unfit for purpose.’

It says the building was standing empty about half the time it was available to hire.

The spokesman added: “The Covid-19 pandemic has brought this issue to a head and Clair Hall is unable to reopen because it cannot operate viably with Covid secure measures in place, given the constraints of the old building.”

Mid Sussex District Council cabinet member for the Environment John Belsey said: “Sadly Covid-19 has created considerable difficulties for community facilities with many activities not allowed to go ahead due to social distancing and Government restrictions.

“Unfortunately, this causes problems for a building such as Clair Hall, which is over 50 years old, with substantial maintenance costs and which has already been experiencing falling usage.

“We want to work on the business case and options for the provision of modern community facilities that could better meet the needs of residents and visitors to Haywards Heath.

“This independently facilitated engagement is an important next step to build the evidence base of the current and future needs of the community.”