PLANS have been unveiled on a new entertainment club for Chiddingfold, to be built on the site of the Rock Venue, after it closes its doors for the last time, this summer. Villagers were invited to view the plans on display at the village hall last Thursday. A representative from Deep Blue developers, Phillip Morris, was also on hand to talk residents through the proposal. Mr Morris also presented an outline to a public meeting, and took questions before the evening's main item on the agenda that evening – Dunsfold Park new town development plans. The new club will be built on the same site, but the club house will be much smaller at 3,500 sq ft. Club membership has dwindled to around 300 and the hall committee came up with the idea to fund a new, smaller hall. The existing club (9,000 sq ft), including the Rock Venue and ex- servicemen's club, will be demolished and homes will also be built on the site, which is just over one acre in all. Mr Morris said the plans will include 13 homes, including four 'affordable homes' for local people. There would be garages and two parking spaces for each of the houses sold on the open market, while the budget homes would have one space each. Chiddingfold Parish Council vice chairman, Richard Hogsflesh, said: "There were a number of people who spoke in favour of the project because the club is very dilapidated. "It will provide modern facilities for the village. But there were a number of concerns over disabled access, in that it was not accessible with people having to cross the members' area to get to the toilet facility, which the developer said would be looked at again; plus a lack of parking when an event was going on there." Although the plans, now with Waverley Borough Council, are not for another Rock Club, it will be a music venue for small acts and solo artists, as well as being used for private hire functions, such as weddings. Many villagers will welcome the new club as another village facility. While glad to see the end of noise generated by rock music gigs and parking problems in Woodside Road, others will be sad to see the end of an era which saw regular live acts. The club attracted fans from far and near, and was famous as being where music legends, such as Genesis, used to practice before going on tour and where Wishbone Ash appeared. It was also used to host regular Radio One DJ disco nights. More recently, it has seen tribute bands, plus up-and-coming acts. The venue's last gig will be tonight (Friday) when Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes appear at the sell- out evening. Waverley Borough Council, which received the plans last month, has had 14 responses so far from neighbours. Comments and formal objections, which can be viewed online via the borough council's web site, range from insufficient car parking on the site, not enough affordable housing, fears over noise nuisance, the building's 'barn' style is out of keeping and there is not enough schooling in the village for extra families; with support for the club as "an important social venue in the village". One supporter is a Guide leader, who submitted a comment to the council saying the present hall is used for her group's weekly meetings and that a new venue is important to the young people of Chiddingfold. Chiddingfold Parish Council will meet to consider the plans next Thursday and will make a recommendation to the borough council. If passed, demolition would take place this summer and the new club could be open next year.
