PLANS for Alton's new community centre took a giant step forward this week as East Hampshire District Council agreed the principle of a new-build scheme. Expected to cost in excess of £2 million, if the project comes to fruition this will be the first time in more than a decade that EHDC has financed a landmark building in the district. And it will be a real coup for the people of Alton. In agreeing the principle, cabinet members gave the green light to proceed to the design phase of the scheme, which will involve the selection of an architect and the drawing up of modified plans to meet council and user views. The decision followed the outcome of a public consultation exercise which showed clear support for the construction of a new building to house current Alton Community Centre activities while also providing accommodation for Alton Citizens Advice Bureau, Alton Tourist Information Centre and EHDC's presence office. A report to Wednesday evening's meeting of EHDC Cabinet left councillors in no doubt that Alton was firmly behind the new-build option. The results of a public questionnaire had shown 97.3 per cent (507) of the 521 respondents in favour of the principle of new build and 94 per cent agreeing that the proposed location in Bank car park was the right one. The strikingly futuristic design submitted by Alton-based architects Format Milton won public favour over the more conventional offering of Kenn Scaddan Associates of Portsmouth, with Format Milton bagging 53.9 per cent of the votes (281), against Kenn Scaddan's 40.7 per cent (212) and 5.4 per cent of voters (28) showing no preference at all. In addition a number of constructive suggestions had been made by the public which will be analysed and fed into the next stage of the development process. As well as those who had attended the exhibition and received group presentations, more than 40 members of the public turned out for EHDC's north west area community committee meeting to hear presentations by both architects, when a clear preference was shown for the Format Milton proposal. Even so, while a great deal of support had been demonstrated for the construction of a new community building in Alton, a report by EHDC's deputy chief executive, Daphne Gardner, remained cautious over the appointment of the architect, which was to be decided behind closed doors. Mrs Gardner pointed out that the public's position on design preference was less clear cut and the outcome would depend on the submission of major design modifications to take into account the council's and other users' views. "At this stage the cabinet is being asked to appoint an architect as opposed to approving a specific detailed scheme," she said. Before the scheme can proceed to the construction phase, which is not expected to get under way for at least a year, it will undergo three different stages. Stage one - the design phase has a 16-week time restriction and will involve the appointment of an architect to develop the scheme to the application stage. This will involve the preparation of detailed drawings which will commit the council to expenditure of professional fees. "The council (EHDC) would not, however, be obliged to proceed beyond this stage if it was not satisfied with the proposed scheme," said Mrs Gardner. EHDC is also expected to appoint an "employer's agent" to act as technical adviser and project manager for the council, and a quantity surveyor who could also be engaged for subsequent phases. This stage is expected to involve detailed discussions and negotiations with potential users of the new building and will include costing and the enlisting of financial support. EHDC's NW area community committee is to be invited to contribute to the scheme, in particular on management of the centre and on how EHDC would expect to make use of the building beyond the functions of the TIC and presence office. Stage two would be to seek planning approval for the scheme - an exercise which is expected to take up to 12 weeks. The council will then go out to tender (phase three) - over an expected time scale of 24 weeks. In paying tribute to EHDC vice-chairman Sam James for his srole in leading the project, Alton district and county councillor Tony Ludlow said he was delighted that the cabinet had decided to support the construction of a bespoke builidng in Alton. "It will meet the needs of the whole community." Commenting on the decision, Alton Community Centre manager Richard Swainston said he was "absolutely delighted" with the decision to go for the new-build option and to receive such strong support from the community for the project. "The fact that 97 per cent of respondents to the questionnaire felt that we should go with a new building is fantastic. I am delighted for the town."
