College no longer accepting groups’ bookings say users

LION Street education centre users have accused South Coast College Hastings of slamming the doors shut in their faces.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Nov 2010, 11:35 BST

Local community groups such as Tuesday Painters Club and WEA, who have used the centre for many years, say the college is refusing to take new bookings from January 1 next year.

Andy Stuart, who organises WEA adult education courses at Lion Street, said: “Furious users of the much-loved facility are outraged by the College’s shut-out policy and refusal to accept any bookings from 1st January 2011, especially since in the last few weeks SCCH has signed a legal document guaranteeing the FE Centre will be available for community use.

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“WEA is being refused bookings by SCCH for next term, and is being forced to seek alternative accommodation. Our preference would be to remain at Lion Street, which is a purpose-built educational facility, but SCCH is  telling us to get out.

“All the other long term users, such as Activ8, the Pilates group, Tuesday painters and so on, have also been effectively told to clear off by the College.

“The Rye community is being expelled from a building that was given to the people of Rye for perpetuity in the 1870s.
 “We know SCCH has signed an S106 Agreement in order to gain planning consent to knock down the grade II listed art room and convert it and the Library building into executive housing.

“The S106 expressly guarantees the FE Centre part of the Lion St site is retained for community use as a condition of the planning consent for housing..”

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Rother District Council’s planning committee meet on November 18 to consider the planning consent for the site which, has been in limbo since January 2005.

Andy Stuart added: “At best, this is double standards by SCCH. At worst, it is quite possibly illegal.

Rye MP Amber Rudd has said she will write to the College asking for answers.

A campaign to try and save the Lion Street site has been backed by more than 1,000 people in the Rye area.

But the College claims it is making a loss and wants to invest money and resources in other areas of Rye, such as creating a special Skills Centre in the grounds of Rye College.

Related topics:Rye CollegeRye