Residents support plan for revamp of centre

01/03/2008 by admin.

Emsworth residents have shown enthusiasm for early plans for a refurbishment of the South Street Emsworth Centre.
The Havant Borough Council- owned centre could be refurbished and made more accessible to the public.

The wider part of the plan takes in the public toilets in the South Street car park which could be demolished for shops and houses and moved.

Havant Borough Council business development manager Tony Lee presented the idea to the Emsworth Community Board last week.

He said: “There is potential to look at the Emsworth Centre and refurbish it to improve the facilities and make it something that would actually address the needs of people in south Emsworth.

“The Emsworth centre could become somewhere people could pop in for a coffee and used as a meeting place – there is huge capacity for usage of the centre.

“The positioning of the building is superb – it is in an area people visiting and walking through will come and see.”

The council is also looking at the idea of selling off the access on to Nile Street at the north of the car park, but still leaving a pedestrian access through.

If the plan goes ahead there would still be access into the car park by the toilets, but the open space would be reduced with shops or houses.

Mr Lee added: “There is potential to transform the retail area of South Street with a series of shops taking the place of the toilets while still allowing an access and egress into the car park.”

Chairman of Emsworth Business Association Brendan Gibb-Gray has been working with the council on the project.

He said: “It just seems to me one of the most attractive streets in Emsworth has gaps in it.

“I think most people will recognise we do not have a community facility in the centre ofthe town.

“Emsworth is such a stunning place when you walk around the harbour, but we have nowhere we can tell people what is on.

“It is exciting because it is for the future – it is not excluding anyone, it is an inclusive plan.”

The centre at the moment plays a vital role holding many community groups and organisations, and if the facilities were upgraded a lot more use could be made of the building.

As part of a bigger and better centre, it could have other uses, such as an extension of Emsworth museum, an information centre for the heritage trail, or an education centre for Chichester Harbour Conservancy.

There was a strong show of hands in support of the project at the community board meeting, meaning the project will move forward.

For more information, or to give feedback on the idea, contact Mr Gibb-Gray on 01243 377355, or email brendan.gibbgray@btopenworld.com

Chichester Observer newspaper29 January 2008

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