School may take over hall

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33783, 4 March 1975, Page 18

School may take over hall

The South New Brighton Community Centre’s committee has written to the Christchurch City Council suggesting that a long-term lease of the existing premises be arranged with the Canterbury Education Board to enable the South Brighton school committee virtually to take over the building.

The committee has found it increasingly difficult to finance its share of maintaining the building over recent years as use has decreased. The community centre adjoins the South New Brighton School, which is eligible to receive a subsidy of $lO,OOO through the Education Board for the erection of a school assembly hall.

The school committee and the local community considered that the erection of a school’ hall would only duplicate facilities and lead to competition for already limited patronage, said the chairman of the Christchurch City Council’s housing and property committee (Cr B. J. Britten) yesterday.

If the Education Board took over a long-term lease the community centre committee considered that part (or possibly all of the school subsidy could be made available for improvements and essential maintenance work and that, through the Education Board, Government finance would be available for future maintenance.

The council’s housing and property committee chairman (Cr B. J. Britten) and the chairman of the parks and reserves committee (Cr P. J. Skellerup) together with Cr Mary D. Batchelor will form a sub-committee to investigate the matter.