A community group has fought off stiff competition from private companies to win the lease on a park building in Westdene after unearthing a 1938 covenant.
The upper half of The Barn on Westdene Green became vacant last year after a charity playgroup vacated it after 20 years.
Not the Friends of Westdene Green is set to take it over and run it as a community centre, with groups, parties and clubs able to hire it out.
The Friends were represented on a pro bono basis by barrister Felicity Thomas, who said: “The covenant, entered into in 1938, states that the purpose of The Green is as a public park, gardens or recreation ground.
“Every bit of land has to be held by a council for a statutory purpose. In this case, when they bought it, they said: ‘we are holding this land as a public space. This will only be for community use.’
“By awarding FoWDG the lease, the council is honouring this covenant, keeping The Barn for community use.”
Rebecca Luff, co-secretary of FoWDG, worked with a steering group, local people and community leaders to create a viable proposal to keep The Barn in the community. With their help, Rebecca has also succeeded in having The Barn and its surroundings added to the council’s list of assets of community value.
She said: “When we moved to Westdene, eight years ago, we were delighted to have access to The Barn for drop ins and parties, which was located in the middle of a wonderful green space. We met so many local people through it.
“We were really disappointed to see it the Barn vacated at the end of last year and, as someone who supports community enterprise in my job at at UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, I felt compelled to help make sure the community had a say in what would happen to this valuable space.
“Now, the refurbished Barn will be used for a variety of clubs and activities for all ages and abilities. These are likely to include craft workshops, fitness classes, group meetings as well as the children’s birthday parties which have traditionally been held there. Our community will decide what they want to see happening there
“The group has costed the running of The Barn and is confident it will be self-funding after the initial refurbishment and has already started to plan the fund-raising needed for that.”
To celebrate the win, FoWDG organised a community event on Sunday, June 12 where visitors were encouraged to bring picnics, barbecues and games to The Green by The Barn to toast the success of the community bid.
Westdene resident and FoWDG event organiser Sarah Nicolls said: “I hope The Barn will become a space for genuine exchange and enhancement, conversation and fun.
“Having such a space will allow this community to make its own identity visible, through shared activities and events, reinforcing accidental friendships, strengthening neighbourly relationships. I think this small, unimposing yet centrally placed building might revolutionise Westdene to be a more connected, sharing place.”
Ann Peters, who carried out the face painting for the event, said: “It’s all about bringing the community together. It’ll be great for the kids to build memories about all the activities they’ve been involved with. Having a central space will make that all possible.”
Resident Sophie Broadbent, who is also co-chair of the Friends of Westdene school Parent Teachers Association, said: “Today I enjoyed meeting an 83-year-old lady on my street who has lived here since the early 60s, as well as parents new to the area with young children, like myself. I am looking forward to The Barn being a place for us all to share fun times together.”
During FoWDG’s battle to save The Barn for the community, they have received support from community leaders including MP Caroline Lucas.
A letter sent by Lucas to support the FoWDG proposal read: “As the MP for Brighton Pavilion, I’d like to voice my support for the Friends of Westdene Green’s campaign to retain Westdene Barn for community use.
“The Friends group aims to promote and protect Westdene Green as a multi-purpose community space which brings people together through events and community action.
“The Hall itself is a wonderful resource. With some work, it could become a multi-purpose, fully accessible and welcoming space for all.
“However, to make full use of it, the hall requires some important renovation work – and I have no hesitation in supporting every effort to find the resources to do just that.”
Cllr Nick Taylor wrote in another early letter of support for the FoWDG proposal: “I have been very impressed as a local representative at the effectiveness and organisation drive the Friends of Westdene Green have demonstrated thus far and I am supporting their bid to run the “Barn” for community use.”
If you’d like to volunteer to help with the refurbishment and running of The Barn, or you’d like to learn more about FoWDG, visit: westdenegreen.org.uk or email: westdenegreen@gmail.com #westdenegreen
The same was true for Hove Park’s former plant nursery area, unused as that following Hove’s merger with Brighton, becoming a gardeners’ depot and councl dumping ground for bits and bobs. It too had a covenant on it. But the council legal department were the ones to go to the beneficiaries to get the covenant erased on that land, making it available for a Free School to build on.
One hopes the Park will not suffer over time – especially now that budgets for parks and gardens maintenance are so heavily slashed and the park’s former keepers have been banished to Stanmer.
The residents who now control this barn deserve a huge slap on the back for a terrific achievement. It took savvy, support and organisation to do it. Hats off to you.
Thank you saveHove – all thanks to the hard work of a committed group of local people and building community along the way, including with the city council. Here’s to the next phase!