Report from the President & Co-Chairs
Co-Chairs Report

Update on finding a space or building for a Community Centre in Broadwater November 2024
The latest and most promising enquiry around finding a space for a Community Centre has been at:

Manor Park Cricket Pavilion
Over the last year we have been in discussions with Worthing Cricket Club, Worthing Youth Minors Football Club and Worthing Borough Council about extending the pavilion to include a Community Centre or building elsewhere on the Manor Cricket ground.

In order to progress the project we have employed Fullers Architects to provide:
1) Measured survey to include the provision of plans and elevations of the existing building with areas.
2) Condition survey of existing building, with elemental breakdown.
3) Summary of suggested possible projects with outline costs to either:

 i) Refurbish/upgrade, alter and extend the existing building.
 ii) Demolish the existing building and construct a new building.
 iii) Retain existing building and construct a new building in an alternative location on the sports ground.

The previous enquiries for other locations over last 4 years are listed below:
1 Ardsheal Road Training Centre
MH in contact regarding the Fire Station since early last year and have finally received the following update:
“At the moment it is only the house at the front of Worthing Fire Station which will become vacant later this year. See picture below.
 
We are currently working with the Fire Service on the date it is likely to be vacated and how we can disconnect it from the utilities / IT etc which are shared with the main station.    
 
For your information, the house has already been declared surplus in the FRS key decision to develop the new Horsham Fire Station and Training Centre - CAB07 (20/21) .
Your email is timely as we are just starting an options appraisal on the future of the house so would be pleased to hear if the local community have any interest in the house or appropriately funded proposals to put forward as part of this process.
 
Please do let me know if you have any further questions about the property.”

2 Cricket Pavilion Broadwater Green
July 2016 advice from Andrew Judge

‘(a) Restrictions on title to the Green

“23 The Green was conveyed by the tenant for life and remaindermen entitled to the Lordship of the Manor upon ... condition and trust ... [that the Green] shall be used or kept open as and for public walks or pleasure grounds or a place of public correction without interruption. The gravel pit is part of the Green. The conveyance also contains a reverter to the Lords of the Manor where there is an interruption to such specified uses in excess of a specified period of time.
24. … The Green was not simply acquired under (S.74 of the 1848 Act), but was also
impressed with a trust that it should be used for, inter alia, public walks or pleasure
grounds. … I can imagine a Community Centre of a relatively small scale that would be
conducive to the enjoyment of the Green where, for example, its purpose was to facilitate
the enjoyment of the Green in some way, such as a cricket pavilion to facilitate recreational
activities on the Green. I therefore conclude that much may depend upon the precise
nature and purpose of the Community Centre…”.

“1988, paragraph 13.46. The learned author of Gadsden therefore concludes that it may be
permissible to erect buildings which are directly related to the enjoyment of the place for exercise and recreation, such as a bandstand, cricket pavilion, changing rooms or toilets, but that other buildings, which might be considered desirable community facilities, such as, say, a village hall, would be unlawful.

31. I therefore conclude that there are significant problems in using any part of the Green for a building, save for a small pavilion or similar for a purposes related to its present uses as a green.”

“An extension designed to facilitate non-Green related enjoyment such as a shop, licensed bar and restaurant or rooms primarily intended for evening bookings would be highly unlikely to be acceptable.”

“The Management Scheme and Town or Village Green Registration, both require
Broadwater Green, which includes the Pavilion, to be available for public access, use and enjoyment for games and recreation. Under the Management Scheme the Council is the guarantor of these things charged with exercising its powers to maintain the common free from all encroachments, and not permitting any trespass on any partial enclosure of any part of the Green. Granting a lease to any Club that allows exclusive possession could undermine those objects as could the fencing off or enclosure of any part of the land except by the Council for limited and temporary purposes such as roping off the cricket table for short periods to preserve the turf (clause 3 of the Management Scheme).”


In addition to the above restrictions it turned out that the space was too small for a Community Centre, even if it went up two floors, because the footprint could not be extended without Secretary of State approval. This would only be considered if an equivalent space was released for a village green elsewhere in Worthing. 


Eric had previously investigated the size of all the different community centres in Worthing and was advised by all of them that it would be better if they had more space than they currently have. The committee viewed the floor plans of the community centres and the plans by the Cricket Club to upgrade the pavilion and in 2021 it was agreed by the committee that the Cricket Club plans were too small to consider as a Community Centre.

Since then MH obtained a copy of the floorplan of Heene Community Centre which was shared with the committee and it’s clear that we would need a much larger space than the Green would allow, notwithstanding the above restrictions.

3 The Wave, Dominion Rd
In September 2021 after we were informed The Wave children and Family Centre was going to be closed, I contacted the Reverend on behalf of BCA to ask if we could use the space for a Community Centre and also help them keep some of the services on. After meeting them I received this reply:

“Without handing over the actual partnership agreement we can only give you some rough figures regarding room hire and our contract with WSCC C&FC……

Because of the way the partnership agreement was set up with WSCC it meant that on average they paid between £28,000 and £30,000 per year. The contract included many other items such as facilities management, Utilities, where WSCC paid a percentage towards costs.

As I said the other day, they managed the building and rooms (separate to the church), Mon-Fri between 9-5, with staff of their own. There was some access to rooms outside those times but very limited use.

Because we are still to be officially notified of the decision to close Wave C&FC services and we are talking to a few other organisations and service providers, we won't be able to guarantee actual availability at the moment.”

WSCC still had a contract and they were unable to make any plans whilst they negotiated an end to the contract.They hoped to be free by Jan 2022 however that lasted many more months and in October 2022 I received this update:

“We are still working out what to do and how to do it. We have a deacons meeting this week and can discuss your request further then.”

After contacting them again in March 2023 we received this reply:

“On the wave situation we are in the final stages of WSCC pulling out completely, we are negotiating some repairs that need to be done but it does mean that we are open to groups who need some space, including BCA. As far as groups that may still need space that you can help with I think Paul might be more help here?

We are still working out our own use of what we have including managing groups but always happy to talk.”

4 Queen Street Car Park 
After consultation with the head of Major Projects for WBC it was agreed that Queen Street Car Park would be available for BCA to construct a Community Centre, subject to planning permission. In June 2021 the majority of the committee voted against pursuing this site for building a Community Centre.
.
5 GSK
“In terms of GSK, one part of their site on the southern end was brought to the market last year which we (WBC) bid on but were not successful. I think they are waiting for that to be built out before bringing any more parcels forward. The land is allocated for employment uses as well so some good planning advice would be needed to see if a community use would be approved.”

6 Hill Barn 
Considered but decided against because location is outside boundaries stipulated on the constitution. 

Once the report is received BCA committee will discuss the options with WCC and send a proposal to WBC.


President Report November 2024

May I extend a warm welcome to our members who have loyally supported us.
Thank you all for coming.

I have put together a round up of our activities since our last AGM in April 2023.

The last eighteen months have had their ups and downs but of course we have risen to the challenge.

Our Treasurer Adrian has reported that he has been able to successfully transfer our local account to HSBC. Thank you Adrian for your diligent accounting. The figures show that despite having some expensive bills to pay this year we have a healthy balance.

Our main disappointment was the shared expense for the Heat Pump heating system that the Borough Council officers insisted that we had installed by a company that they said we had to use. This company (which went into liquidation soon after they left here) didn't complete the job properly! We had condensation problems over last summer because they hadn't lagged the pipes. On top of that, when we needed the heating, it didn't work! Thankfully Debbie knew a reliable Brighton heating firm who replaced a sticking valve, lagged the pipes and are now contracted to service the system on a yearly basis. 

The newly installed kitchen has, I'm pleased to report, been a success.

The Nursery “Bright Little Minds” who took over from “Bright Little Buttons” are using our facilities every weekday but are struggling with attracting sufficient numbers. 

The quiz nights have been a success. Thanks are due to my wife Liz, Peter Bartram, Lindsay Scott, Bill Geddes and Dick Smith who posed the questions.

Bingo is thriving I'm pleased to report, thanks to Debbie's Christine's and Andy's regular Wednesday efforts. 

We had a successful Car Boot Sale on the Green in August. Thank you to Margaret Debbie, Eric, Lindsay, Andy & phil.

Margaret has produced a thorough report, which is really appreciated, on our efforts over the years to try to find somewhere for our community association to move to which will give us more room. Our latest venture is to look into the possibility of adapting the Manor Ground Pavilion as a Broadwater Community Centre. We have commissioned a local firm – Fullers Architects - to survey the building for us.

We have paid for an update to the Notice Board opposite the Post Office and plan to have a new one erected outside the Parish Rooms too.

Finally, can I thank each of the members of the committee for their cheerful support, their positive contributions and, I hope, for their continuing presence on the committee. 



Eric Mardell - Summer 2019
LOCAL HISTORY:
Did you know:

That Broadwater was mentioned in 1086 in the Domesday Book? It was spelled Bradewatre then and boasted 37 inhabitants! 

Robert le Savage was the first French Lord granted responsibility for this area by William the Conqueror.

Bradewater passed through the hands of many influential families - Sir John Gaddesdon, Michael de Coombe and particularly the Camoy family who were popular in the court of Richard the Second. The family continued to attend the Royal court, and Thomas Lord Camoy saw active service in both French and Spanish expeditions between 1377 and 1387 and also, accompanied by archers from Bradwatre commanded the left flank at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 under Henry the Fifth! He fought so bravely that the king made him a Knight of the Garter, which entitled him to a grant from the king of 2 shillings a day!He is shown on a beautiful brass in his Agincourt armour, holding hands with his wife where they are buried at Trotton church, between Petersfield andPetworth.

In 1588 there were two beacons on top of Cissbury Ring as part of the warning system to spread the word up to London if the Spanish Armada was sighted sailing up the channel!

By 1676 Broadwater had grown in size to 200 inhabitants.

in 1793 the Broadwater Manor (now the site of Lancing College Prep School in Sompting Avenue) was purchased by the wealthy and influential Newland family, and John  Newland became Lord of the Manor.In 1865 Mrs Ann Newland,his widow, gifted Broadwater Green to the Local Board of Health to be kept as a recreation ground. Even before that it had been used for cricket games, probably at that time with curved bats and only two stumps. In 1837 a Sussex Eleven played host to an All England Eleven on our Green.

The last of the Newlands, three unmarried sisters, lived their mature lives in Cheltenham then returned to be buried in the Newland vault in Broadwater. 

I would like to thank everyone who has attended or helped at any of our recent events; the Car Boot Sale on the Green, the Line Dancing taster evening in July, our weekly Wednesday Bingo sessions, quizzes and the Carnival. Coming together as a community is so important in this day and age. Please do get in touch with us (via this website, by email or by phone) if you have ideas for future events we can offer to widen our appeal across age groups and the wider community.  

Your Chair

Eric Mardell 

  • 2022 Co-Chairs Report

    Co-Chairs Report


    Ahead of the April 2023 AGM the following report outlines the work undertaken by BCA, towards finding a space or building for a Community Centre in Broadwater


    1 Ardsheal Road Training Centre


    Early 2022 MH in contact regarding the Fire Station training centre and received the following update:


    “At the moment it is only the house at the front of Worthing Fire Station which will become vacant later this year (2023). 

     

    We are currently working with the Fire Service on the date it is likely to be vacated and how we can disconnect it from the utilities / IT etc which are shared with the main station.    

     

    For your information, the house has already been declared surplus in the FRS key decision to develop the new Horsham Fire Station and Training Centre - CAB07 (20/21) .

    Your email is timely as we are just starting an options appraisal on the future of the house so would be pleased to hear if the local community have any interest in the house or appropriately funded proposals to put forward as part of this process."


    2 Cricket Pavilion 


    July 2016 advice from Andrew Judge includes the following information:


    ‘(a) Restrictions on title to the Green


    “23 The Green was conveyed by the tenant for life and remaindermen entitled to the Lordship of the Manor upon ... condition and trust ... [that the Green] shall be used or kept open as and for public walks or pleasure grounds or a place of public correction without interruption. The gravel pit is part of the Green. The conveyance also contains a reverter to the Lords of the Manor where there is an interruption to such specified uses in excess of a specified period of time.

    24. … The Green was not simply acquired under (S.74 of the 1848 Act), but was also

    impressed with a trust that it should be used for, inter alia, public walks or pleasure

    grounds. … I can imagine a Community Centre of a relatively small scale that would be

    conducive to the enjoyment of the Green where, for example, its purpose was to facilitate

    the enjoyment of the Green in some way, such as a cricket pavilion to facilitate recreational

    activities on the Green. I therefore conclude that much may depend upon the precise

    nature and purpose of the Community Centre…”.


    “1988, paragraph 13.46. The learned author of Gadsden therefore concludes that it may be

    permissible to erect buildings which are directly related to the enjoyment of the place for exercise and recreation, such as a bandstand, cricket pavilion, changing rooms or toilets, but that other buildings, which might be considered desirable community facilities, such as, say, a village hall, would be unlawful.


    31. I therefore conclude that there are significant problems in using any part of the Green for a building, save for a small pavilion or similar for a purposes related to its present uses as a green.”


    “An extension designed to facilitate non-Green related enjoyment such as a shop, licensed bar and restaurant or rooms primarily intended for evening bookings would be highly unlikely to be acceptable.”


    “The Management Scheme and Town or Village Green Registration, both require

    Broadwater Green, which includes the Pavilion, to be available for public access, use and

    enjoyment for games and recreation. Under the Management Scheme the Council is the guarantor of these things charged with exercising its powers to maintain the common free from all encroachments, and not permitting any trespass on any partial enclosure of any part of the Green. Granting a lease to any Club that allows exclusive possession could undermine those objects as could the fencing off or enclosure of any part of the land except by the Council for limited and temporary purposes such as roping off the cricket table for short periods to preserve the turf (clause 3 of the Management Scheme).”



    In addition to the above restrictions the space was too small for a Community Centre, even over two floors, because the footprint could not be extended without Secretary of State approval. This would only be considered if an equivalent space was released for a village green elsewhere in Worthing. 



    EM had previously investigated the size of all the different community centres in Worthing and was advised by all of them that it would be better if they had more space than they currently have. The committee viewed the floor plans of the community centres and the plans by the Cricket Club to upgrade the pavilion and it was agreed by the committee that the Cricket Club plans for the pavilion were too small to consider as a Community Centre.


    Since then MH obtained a copy of the floorplan of Heene Community Centre which was shared with the committee in March 2023 and it’s clear that we would need a much larger space than the Green would allow, notwithstanding the above restrictions.



    3 The Wave, Dominion Rd


    In September 2021 after we were informed that The Wave children and Family Centre was going to be closed, MH contacted the Reverend on behalf of BCA to ask if BCA could use the space for a Community Centre and also help them keep some of the services on. After meeting them MH received this reply:


    “Without handing over the actual partnership agreement we can only give you some rough figures regarding room hire and our contract with WSCC C&FC……


    Because of the way the partnership agreement was set up with WSCC it meant that on average they paid between £xx,xxx and £xx,xxx per year. The contract included many other items such as facilities management, utilities etc where WSCC paid a percentage towards costs.


    As I said the other day, they managed the building and rooms (separate to the church), Mon-Fri between 9-5, with staff of their own. There was some access to rooms outside those times but very limited use.


    Because we are still to be officially notified of the decision to close Wave C&FC services and we are talking to a few other organisations and service providers, we won't be able to guarantee actual availability at the moment.”



    WSCC still had a contract and they were unable to make any plans whilst they negotiated an end to the contract.They hoped to be free by Jan 2022 however that lasted two more years many more months and in March 2023 we received this reply:


    “On the wave situation we are in the final stages of WSCC pulling out completely, we are negotiating some repairs that need to be done but it does mean that we are open to groups who need some space, including BCA. As far as groups that may still need space that you can help with I think Paul might be more help here?


    We are still working out our own use of what we have including managing groups but always happy to talk.”


    4 Queen Street Car Park 


    After consultation with the head of Major Projects for WBC it was agreed that Queen Street Car Park would be available for BCA to construct a Community Centre, subject to planning permission. In June 2021 the majority of the committee voted against pursuing this site for building a Community Centre, believing that planning permission would receive too many objections from the surrounding residents and users of the car park.

    .

    5 GSK


    Enquiries regarding the GSK site resulted in this response:


    “In terms of GSK, one part of their site on the southern end was brought to the market last year which we bid on but were not successful. I think they are waiting for that to be built out before bringing any more parcels forward. The land is allocated for employment uses as well so some good planning advice would be needed to see if a community use would be approved.”


    6 Downsbrook School playing field


    Enquiries were made and MH was informally advised that it was very unlikely that the Academy would release any land for a Community Centre, but no written reply was received.


    7 Hill Barn Pavilion


    Decided this was outside the area.


    8 Manor Sports Ground Cricket Club


    Enquiries are being made however WBC advised this is unlikely to be approved.


    BCA has looked at the list of WSCC and WBC assets to find suitable sites for a Community Centre, but have been unable to find anywhere apart from those listed above.

  • 2022 President's Report

    President Report July 2022


    On Broadwater Carnival day 23rd July, we will be hosting a Councillor drop in from 10am, followed by Meet your new Mayor from 11.30am. During that time we will be collecting donated food, nappies and pet food for the Worthing Food Foundation to help those who are struggling to manage. Parents can also drop off branded school uniform, such as blazers, jumpers and PE kit, for repurposing by the Uniform centre run by Worthing Food Foundation in partnership with Broadwater Support Group. Please do not include plain grey trousers, skirts, white shirts and polos as we do not have enough space to store them.


    May/June 2022


    Our President Eric and his wife Liz very kindly planted up the boat, removing the bulbs and perennials and replacing with red, white and blue flowers to celebrate the Jubilee.


    Easter 2022


    Over the Easter holidays the kitchen in the Parish rooms has been completely refurbished and upgraded to include new wall tiling, kitchen cupboards, dishwasher, storage units, sink and water heater. 


    January 2022


    The Parish rooms have recently had the heating and electrics upgraded and now have an air source heat pump supplying heating to the premises. 


    November 2021


    Liana resigned as co-chair after her business expanded and the additional time constraints made it difficult for Liana to commit the time needed to the role. Debbie Croft was proposed as co-chair by Margaret and voted in by the committee.


    On behalf of the members we would like to thank Liana for her input to Broadwater Community Association over the last few years.


    Feb 2021 


    Eric Mardell chose to retire from the role of Chair and agreed to continue in his role as President, a role he has occupied since 2003. Eric proposed the new Co-Chairs Margaret Howard and Liana Naylor.


    On behalf of the members we would like to thank Eric for all his hard work for Broadwater Community Association over very many years. He brought his considerable experience in local politics as a Mayor and Councillor to the committee and then stepped up to take over from Brian as Chair when he passed away. We are very grateful that Eric agreed to carry on Brian’s vision during the last 5 years. He has kept the Association going through some very difficult times and stayed on as Chair even after giving notice that he wanted to step down in 2019!


    Thankfully Eric has agreed to stay on as president and will help us through the transition period.


    Two long-standing and very hard working founder members are Liz Fullick (Brian's wife) and Pam Angel. They have both agreed to take on the committee roles of legacy representatives to ensure that all that has gone before will not be forgotten.


    Looking forward, we have been working together with Eric and have created some other new roles for the committee and are excited to see the number of people that have put their names forward to take on the new roles (see the Committee page). We hope that together we will be able to get the refurbishments of the Parish rooms underway and will work towards Brian’s vision of a new community centre as well as responding to the results of the 2020 Consultation, which we will share with you as soon as we can. 
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