Hall negotiations

Radley Parish Council proposed this several years ago, after I had been approached by a resident. Recent negotiations began after the college confirmed the offer in more detail early this year.

The village hall was built about 30 years ago on land leased from the college. It also includes the children's playground, a football pitch and the parish pavilion.

The village hall no longer meets current specifications and is nearing the end of its life. The lease on the land will expire in 28 years.

The present discussions with Radley College include a new combined village hall, sports pavilion and two football pitches, to be paid for by the college after the sale of the present Gooseacre site for housing.

Although conscious of possible future implications of using Green Belt land in this way, I see this project as the best way of providing for Radley's long-term future. The parish council and village hall management committee have received many complaints from neighbours about nuisance from the hall.

As a result, the hall recently had to be closed while the sound insulation was upgraded.

It temporarily lost its entertainment licence, and has permanently lost its bar licence, reducing its income. Further increasingly costly improvements would not restore this.

At a public meeting in July, a few people made outspoken and unpleasant comments against Radley College (in the presence of the bursar, who had been invited by the parish council to address the meeting). A number of others supported the initiative.

Following the meeting, many villagers wrote to the bursar or sought out parish councillors to express their disgust and shame at the comments made, and gave their support for the project.

The village hall working party, comprising parish councillors and the hall management committee, is working to provide the very best community facilities for present and future residents of Radley.

Denis Standen(Councillor) Radley