Clair Hall ‘like a car in need of trading in for new model’

After removing it from the leisure contract back in August, Mid Sussex District Council’s cabinet agreed to shutter the Haywards Heath community venue in September.

Clair Hall in Perrymount Road has been shut since the first lockdown in March and the council cited falling usage and the price of future running costs and repairs as two of the main reasons for permanent closure.

A petition calling for the council not to close the venue for good, signed by almost 4,000 people, was discussed at a meeting last Wednesday (November 4).

Petitioners asked the council why it could not discuss the possibility of community groups taking on the hall and running it until a replacement facility is built.

They accused the council of ‘wilful neglect’ of the community asset for years and argued there were no alternatives with similar facilities nearby.

John Belsey, cabinet member for environment and service delivery, argued that the ‘most rational’ course of action would be to close Clair Hall and start consultation on an ‘exciting project’ to include a new community facility on that or another site in the town centre.

He added: “Now is the time we must look to the future and to the exciting opportunities that can lie ahead.”

John Knight (Con, HH - Lucastes) agreed, arguing that Clair Hall had not been profitable for a long time and to take it on now was ‘simply not viable’.

He said: “I understand the nostalgia and sentiment that goes with this building, but your petition has strengthened our focus on what Haywards Heath needs and deserves in terms of theatre, music and arts for our residents.”

He put forward a motion, carried by a majority of councillors, that stated it was not feasible for Clair Hall to reopen and said the council would undertake consultation to inform the development of a business case for the provision of a modern community facility as part of the site.

Clive Laband (Con, HH - Heath) added: “It’s a tired, worn out building and if it was a car it would have got to the point where we no longer want to pour money into it to repair it and we would trade it in and get a newer model, that’s more environmentally friendly, efficient and somewhere where residents seek to go to enjoy it as a destination.”

A Lib Dem amendment requesting officers enter into discussions with community groups about the continued use of the hall pending the business case and feasibility study was defeated.

Robert Eggleston (LDem, BH - Meeds) said: “There is nothing to be lost by sitting around a virtual table with these interested parties to see whether they could come up with a plan that would enable Clair Hall to be operated with no risk to the district council.”

The original Conservative motion was then carried.

Michael Pulfer (Con, HH - Franklands) said: “I think we need to grasp this opportunity as firmly as we can. It’s a huge opportunity for the people of Haywards Heath to get something that’s really fit for purpose and fit for our town.”