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CAMPAIGNERS DISPUTE CENTRE REFURB COSTS

14 May 2009

Campaigners seeking to reopen Nunhead Community Centre have disputed the £1.3million figure the council insists it will cost to get it fully operational again.

In an interview with the ‘News’ last week, Southwark Council's Chief Executive, Annie Shepperd, defended the choice not to reopen the Nunhead Lane site and instead offer the community an alternative location.

She justified the costing by stating the centre required a new water system, new kitchen and flooring, as well as electrics and lighting, amongst a number of other upgrades.

But locals claim the work could be done a lot more cheaply - something the council has denied.
Cllr Fiona Colley, who represents the Nunhead ward, said: "Work needs to be done to a reasonable standard, but it does not have to be new and gold plated - it just needs a bit of a spruce up.

"But the work is not as expensive as what she (Annie Shepperd) is saying. The costs seem to be over the top and makes it seem to be unaffordable."

The bulk of the council's estimate is accounted for as ‘refurbishment’ to a mid-range level, which costs £798,875. The figure is not broken down into separate elements but is based on refurbishing the centre at £1,375 per square metre. The next largest cost is £209,000 on fees, while £86,275 is set aside for landscaping the small concreted areas that surround the centre.

Cris Claridge, who chaired the meeting that commenced a campaign to reopen the centre, is also baffled by the costing detailed by the council's Chief Executive. She said: "It seems like they have just done it without even looking at the centre.

We just want them to make it safe for us to use, and the cosmetics will come with time."
Southwark Council’s Chief Executive Annie Shepperd said this week: "We have made it very clear that any answer to this issue must both provide a building that is fit to be used by local people and make sense to the council taxpayers of Southwark.

"The building has deteriorated badly since it was closed and even to bring it up to minimum standards would cost the bulk of the £1.3 million estimated by professional surveyors.

“This council is not prepared to put local people at risk or ask council taxpayers to take on such a liability, even if the community centre group could form itself into a viable organisation to acquire the lease and run the centre.
"The council has tried hard to provide an alternative venue, but an up-to-date, fully accessible building was offered and unfortunately turned down by the community group."