New £200,000 Steeton community centre 'looks like a green shed’ (From Craven Herald)
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New £200,000 Steeton community centre 'looks like a green shed’
11:00am Friday 19th October 2012 in News
The new community centre
A new £200,000 community centre has come under fire for its appearance.
One councillor has criticised the building, at Steeton, saying it looks like a “green shed”.
But parish council chairman David Mullen said the community hub looked exactly as it should. He said villagers were consulted on the plans for exterior walls and cladding and then they were approved by Bradford Council planners.
Bradford councillor Andrew Mallinson, who represents Craven ward, said some residents had expressed concerns about the hall’s appearance.
The hall, funded from a variety of sources, is intended to replace the current bowling pavilion and provide space for several other local groups. The new building will offer twice as much usable space as before, along with a foyer, toilets and snack-making area.
Building work began in mid-summer, with the framework and walls quickly taking shape. Two of the walls are timber with windows, but the roof and the two other walls – including one facing Skipton Road – have metal surfaces.
Coun Mallinson said there were “definite concerns” amongst Steeton people about the appearance.
He said: “If that’s the finished article then it doesn't look in keeping with the rest of the building. Villagers have been in touch about it. I share the concerns of other people.”
Coun Mullen said the parish council had widely consulted about its proposals for the community hub, including its look and size, and had run drop-in sessions for residents.
The council sent samples of the potential exterior colours to Bradford Council, and planners had agreed to grey. He said: “We have not deviated from the permission we got. It’s all been in the plans since day one. Nothing’s been done in secret. If people are now coming and complaining, where were they three or four years ago when we asked everyone?”
Coun Mullen understood some residents of Stone Grove feared they would be overlooked by the hall, but said only gable ends faced the building.
Coun Mullen said builders were due to hand over the building on Friday, November 16, and an opening ceremony would be held before the end of the year. The old pavilion is due to be demolished on Monday, November 19.
Comments(5)
bettyswollocks
says...
1:19pm Fri 19 Oct 12
They want to knock the new one down and leave the old one there.
fedup resident
says...
2:22am Sat 20 Oct 12
Lesser spotted being the operative word - very rarely seen!!!!! Steeton yet again providing for the few rather than for the whole community. This time pulling a double blinder by destroying a children's play area to provide for the few.
The Doris Wells ground (otherwise known as the football ground) was donated to the people of Steeton as a recreation area. It has been rented out to the football club. The council have said this is still for use by the people but the gates are locked barring the way to anyone not prepared to climb over. Many people who use the grounds have reported being shouted at by the ground staff and even having ride on lawn mowers driven at them. Meanwhile this area, donated to all the people of Steeton, sits empty and unused for the majority of the year apart from odd evenings training and matches during the season.
Another piece of land on the main road was given to the village for the use of the people. This was sold off without any consultation seen by the locals. It now has houses on it. I can only presume the proceeds were spent on a cow shed!!
If someone gives something to the people of a village then that should be respected. Steeton council - you should be ashamed of your behaviour and your monstrous new building. Stop stealing the village's assets and do something positive for the whole village for once!
dennisnilsen
says...
5:57pm Sun 21 Oct 12
bettyswollocks
says...
4:35pm Mon 22 Oct 12
fedup resident wrote:If you go back far enough you'll find that the bowling green and land used for the park were donated for use by the village. Many years ago they belonged to Elmsley House but were donated for the use of the village.
Walking past the new cow shed being built in the middle of the village each day I often pondered on how it would look finished. Surely that cheap outer covering is merely protection for the building? It looks monstrous from the road with barely any windows - it's going to be very dark inside. No silly me - they'll be putting in an entire front wall of windows. I suppose that will be nice for the OAPs to sit inside and watch the bowls. No silly me - mean little windows at the front. Is this so the bird watcher's can sit inside this bird hide (camaflaged as a cow shed) so as not to scare off the Lesser Spotted Bowlers!! Lesser spotted being the operative word - very rarely seen!!!!! Steeton yet again providing for the few rather than for the whole community. This time pulling a double blinder by destroying a children's play area to provide for the few. The Doris Wells ground (otherwise known as the football ground) was donated to the people of Steeton as a recreation area. It has been rented out to the football club. The council have said this is still for use by the people but the gates are locked barring the way to anyone not prepared to climb over. Many people who use the grounds have reported being shouted at by the ground staff and even having ride on lawn mowers driven at them. Meanwhile this area, donated to all the people of Steeton, sits empty and unused for the majority of the year apart from odd evenings training and matches during the season. Another piece of land on the main road was given to the village for the use of the people. This was sold off without any consultation seen by the locals. It now has houses on it. I can only presume the proceeds were spent on a cow shed!! If someone gives something to the people of a village then that should be respected. Steeton council - you should be ashamed of your behaviour and your monstrous new building. Stop stealing the village's assets and do something positive for the whole village for once!
The football club were given a 99 year agreement to have first use of the football field. Their argument is that it provides a enue for the team that represents the village to play (although how many of the current team live in the village may disprove that).
veryannoyed99 says...
12:04pm Fri 19 Oct 12