The old Community Centre had been in existence since 1974 when it was a “Day Centre” and at that time a covenant was put on the land to ensure that a community facility would be on the site “forever”. The Centre then became a Community Centre and it had been used by local families for parties, wedding receptions and a general meeting place, providing exercise and other classes during that time. It was also the Polling Station.
In 2008 Sovereign, Twynham Housing Association, put in a planning application to demolish the old Community Centre and build offices, which would be their “flagship” office for the Association and a room would be provided that would hold 30 people as a “community facility”. The residents were unhappy with this and voiced their opinions through the Local Resident Association “Somerford Community Partnership” (SCP). They fought this application and after a lot of hard work and support from residents the application was refused in 2010, the covenant on the land had a major impact on the decision to refuse. The old Community Centre had been closed and the likelihood of it re-opening was very remote.
It became very clear that a community facility was much needed. Because of the condition of the existing Community Centre, which had not had any remedial works done for years, negotiations between Sovereign Housing and the Local Residents Association SCP, for either works to be carried out to the existing Community Centre or a new community building might be made available in the form of the United Reformed Church in Southey Road. This had been used by Sovereign Response, but became empty. The costs of the works to bring the old Community Centre to a usable condition came in at over £75,000 because of asbestos in the building. To bring the United Reformed Church to a usable condition as a community facility was approximately £45,000. Sovereign were not prepared to spend the £75,000 and therefore it would be closed permanently so there would be no Community Centre at all. At that time, and as part of the negotiations for the use of the site, it was suggested that homes for local people be built on the old community centre site. With the support of the residents, Sovereign would spend approximately £45,000 on the United Reformed Church and lease it to the community. This was the agreement and a “steering group" was formed to meet and discuss the way forward and after initial meetings a “core group" of approximately 6 people then applied for charity status. “Somerford Alliance Resource Centre” was then formed in 2013 with 3 Trustees at that time, we now have 5 Trustees who together make decisions about the day to day running of the centre.
Somerford ARC opened for business in April 2014 and officially opened by the Mayor Councillor Denise Jones on 7th June 2014
Wikipedia: Somerford, Dorset
freenetname.co.uk: History of the Somerford Estate, Christchurch
Dorset Council: Christchurch
Wikiwand: History of Christchurch, Dorset
