IMPORTANT - this new information may not have been fully communicated at the recent exhibition but represents the position of the MHA. A report will be compiled by the Officers of WBC for the Members of WBC on the feasibility and financial implications of the decisions to be taken. It is complicated because of the various interests of each party and should be fully understood before reaching a decision about your objection or support. The future of the Memorial Hall is now largely in the hands of a study being conducted by Officers of Woking Borough Council (WBC). The Memorial Hall Association (MHA) does not have the funds to rebuild on the existing site.

The shortfall is too great to raise in the short to medium term. It is the hope that the Officers carrying out the review will recommend the approval by the Executive and Financial Committees of WBC in order for them to take over the project. They will have the benefit of the existing land for development as a quid pro quo to building a Hall, and  have a quality tenant by leasing it to the MHA. The MHA Accounts for 2004 has the following 2 paragraphs in the Board of Management Report:"Plans for the proposed development of the Memorial Hall on the existing site have now been approved by WBC. They have reconfirmed the financial support of £ 100,000 already awarded by the Council towards the redevelopment costs consisting of an award of £ 60,000 from the Community fund, and £ 40,000 under Tripartite Funding Agreement with Surrey County Council.

A further request by the Association for a further £ 200,000 has been refused. However the officers of WBC have been instructed to explore alternative proposals consistent with the Council's priorities of housing, environment and health and well-being and to make better use of the sports field by providing facilities levering other uses and incorporating the Memorial Hall. The effect of this approach will be to delay the project for at least one year compared to the timetable planned by the Association if it had raised enough funds".Part of the purpose of the recent display at the Memorial Hall was to show how far WBC Officers had gone with their exploration of alternative proposals. Those who attended the display were given the chance to see plans for a new Hall of almost identical size to the existing Hall - in terms of facilities - and with the addition of changing facilities for cricketers/sports field users. It is important for local objectors to realise that these plans have been drawn up by WBC Officers to incorporate the MHA's requirements. The plans are a part of a feasibility study carried out at the expense of WBC to maximise the need for a new Memorial Hall, the need for sports facilities within the Borough and to incorporate environmental management. Had this been a brownfield site, it would be a very good solution. What has to be weighed up by WBC, the MHA, the residents and the villagers is whether the gain is worth more than the loss.The MHA do not have enough funds to rebuild on their own site. Everyone is responsible for that not just the MHA. If we had contributed enough then we would have a new Hall on the existing site. If the Hall produced enough revenue to finance it, the same would be true. But that is not the case.

WBC Officers are trying to satisfy needs within the Borough and needs within the Village and this proposal is their compromise. The next step is for WBC to make a planning application to WBC ( yes to itself - and to be determined by our elected representatives). After that, WBC needs to produce suitable exchange land as Common Land cannot be used for building without replacement land - of equal amenity value. This they apparently have in hand. Then in order for the funding to kick in, the MHA will need to hand over the existing land to WBC for future development for housing. No application has been made for that at this stage, but Affordable or Social Housing has been mooted. This will help fund the development. The trustees of the MHA will then need to submit the total transaction to the Charity Commissioners for separate approval. So there are still hurdles to be overcome. In the end the Hall will be built by WBC and owned by them. The proposal is that they will lease it to the MHA for 125 years at a peppercorn rent and the MHA will be responsible for the Management of the Hall and Sports facilities, collecting the rents and paying the expenses. At the moment the MHA do not foresee an increase in the rents they are charging, but they will increase their revenue by being able to hold parties and events the during the day and in the evenings. They are prevented from taking certain bookings at the moment because of a Court Noise Abatement Order. The facility will include an entertainments licence and the ability to sell alcohol, but only to users (hirers) of the Halls. In general it is likely that only weddings and parties will serve alcohol. No alcohol will be on general sale to the public. The precise nature of the licence is as yet unknown. Does that mean 18 and 21 birthday parties - well probably not because of the potential for problems and at the end of the day the Hall will still be run by volunteers.