JERICHO ECHO ARTICLE
The next piece in the puzzle
Your chance to decide on a new Community Centre
March 2001
For some years there have been plans to develop the canalside land behind St Barnabas Church. Such have been the twists and turns in this saga, however, that even if you understood it first time round you could now be forgiven for having lost the plot.
Here briefly is how things stand. The site is owned by British Waterways who have been searching for a developer. One of the most imaginative proposals came from the Jericho Canalside Development Group, which includes the Jericho Community Association, the Church, and two local businesses-Rosamund the Fair and College Cruisers which currently occupy part of the site. The group worked with a London-based developer, Metropolitan and County, to produce a plan that would have used the site for housing and businesses as well as an open square and a new community centre.
In February 2000 British Waterways turned down this plan, because they were not sure it was viable and did not offer as much money as had been expected. At any rate, they decided to open the site to other bidders and issue a 'design brief' for potential developers to follow. The first draft of this, which appeared in May, was very disappointing-implying a block of mainly three-storey housing along the canal, an over-large restaurant and very little public space. This was discussed at a meeting in June in the school. British Waterways promised to amend the plan and also require any developer to consult with the local community. By early March 2001, they said they would soon be publishing the brief and inviting offers.
We might seem to be back at square one, but have nevertheless made real progress. For one thing there has been good support from the City Council which is willing to contribute extra land to allow the development to include a new Community Centre somewhere on the site.
The Council has also drafted amendments to the 'local plan' and offered guidelines for development, making it clear that an entirely three-storey development here would be unlikely to get planning permission. They also expect to see a public space open to the canal and a new bridge with wheelchair and cycle access to give a link to the station.
This site is of critical importance to Jericho and to the city, and we want to do our best to ensure that we get a sensitive and imaginative development, as well as a valuable new Community Centre. The current Community Centre on the corner of Canal Street and Cardigan Street, is the former St Barnabas Institute, which the Church leases to the Council, which in turn leases it to the Jericho Community Association. The lease expires in 2005 by which time we might have a new Centre with better facilities for many more people.
This is where you come in - helping place the next piece in the puzzle. Not, you will be relieved to discover, to offer money but to let us know what kind of Centre would best suit you. We have already had a well-attended public meeting on the overall development. Shortly, we will be distributing a questionnaire to gather views on the character of the new Centre.
This will enable us to let potential developers know what kind of building we need. But it will also help gauge public support. It is therefore vital that we get a good response to the questionnaire, so that we can approach potential funders, including the National Lottery, with evidence of strong community demand.
The present Centre has limited facilities and only serves a small section of people-those who go to the café, or to classes, say, or to the lunch club, or the playgroup. But what about a new Centre that could have a gym, rooms for wedding receptions or parties, an outdoor play area? With energy and commitment we could have a new and more self-sustaining Centre to be proud of - for use by people of all age groups. So please be sure to complete and return the questionnaire and let us know what you think.