Maunds Hatch Project         

On 10th March 2003 at a Great Parndon Community Partnership meeting The Berecroft Community Association committee members put forward a proposal requesting Harlow Council to consider the construction of a new community centre on land previously occupied by  the Scouts organisation, the existing building and land had not been maintained due to lack of funds and had become both unusable by the group and an eyesore for local people.  Coincidentally a relative of a resident of 317 Berecroft had written to the Partnership suggesting a similar project.   This was taken by all to be a very worthwhile proposal.  

A grant was acquired for a feasibility study  and  meetings set up with as many interested parties as possible.  From one of these meetings came another suggested option.  This option was to sell the piece of  land and in doing so  acquire funding to refurbish and extend where possible, the old Maunds Hatch Community Centre close by.  Built in the 1960's, although still in full use, is in desperate need of a major facelift.  This option would not only house the existing users but provide extra  facilities to accommodate other needs lacking in the community, hopefully for a wide range of age groups.  It was decided by majority vote that the feasibility study would continue with this option, that the whole project would be resident led and once completed would be financially self supporting. Help, support and expertise would be given by Harlow Council Officers throughout the whole study.

A consultation document was designed in the form of a questionnaire and every household in the ward received a copy.  A copy of this is above with all the minutes from the meetings to date.  The consultation is ongoing therefore please do not hesitate to print the questionnaire, fill it in and send it off to the Freepost address that is on the form.  The response to the questionnaire was disappointing so in order to raise awareness of the project and therefore get more input from local residents a video that was put together by  the committee of Berecroft Community Association intended to be shown to Harlow Councilors in a bid to take the project forward, will also be shown in as many public places as possible, i.e. Libraries, Harlow Contact Centre. 

Watch this space for further news! 

Great news! the project is up and running again more News as we get it