Twelve years ago in April 1998 there was
a crisis meeting in Manuden’s Village Hall.
The hall was close to being closed because
of its unfit state, inadequate facilities and
complete lack of parking. A feasibility study
was undertaken by the committee which showed
clear support in the village for the building
of a new hall. A project steering group was
formed, fundraising in the village began, lottery
funding was sought and an outline planning
application for a new hall was approved. However,
everyone’s hopes were dashed when both the
Community Fund and Sport England funding applications
were rejected.
The only way this much needed facility can
now be funded is through the accompanying housing
scheme. The Eastern region has to build more
houses and through this scheme Manuden would
be doing its part. The affordable housing for
local people, a cause close to my heart, would
be a priceless asset to our village. A housing
need survey has proven its demand.
So many villages in Uttlesford have decent
facilities but although Manuden is a great
village in which to live, it has no facilities
to speak of. The many groups and thriving sports
clubs that are run by volunteers need somewhere
decent to meet, to play on, to change in, to
park at safely, to sustain the community spirit
we have always had. Our thriving village school
needs more space at certain times and fully
supports the scheme. Manuden Junior Football
Club has over 100 members. We need to encourage
children to be active and play sport but we
need the facilities to be able do this effectively.
There has been a great deal of consultation
in Manuden including an exhibition, public
meetings, door drops and magazine articles
and this has resulted in more than 250 people
on the electoral roll signing the petition
in support of this planning application, representing
a clear majority. 58 people have written to
Uttlesford in support of this proposal with
only 12 objections. It is a community led scheme
which clearly reflects local need and aspirations
and would really enhance the quality of life
we all enjoy.
Manuden needs these facilities. At this time
of greater emphasis on local decision making,
we hope that you will agree with the hundreds
of Manuden residents who support the proposal
that the benefits of the scheme clearly outweigh
the departure from countryside policy and that
you will accept the officer recommendation
that conditional approval be granted.
So,
having successfully achieved this major milestone
we can now confidently proceed to the next
phase. Please don’t expect diggers on site
tomorrow! There’s much yet to be done by way
of preparing a detailed design brief and the
complex legal agreements necessary to safeguard
the interests of the village, and so on. Some
improvement in the housing market is also needed
before the project becomes viable. Your project
steering group will now press on with its work
and keep you informed of progress.
