NEWS RELEASES
Time to celebrate completion of big project
8th December 2006
MORE than 12 years have passed by since the Council had its first discussions with Southwater Parish Council, and a host of other partners, which led us all to agree that what Southwater village needed was a new centre with strong community facilities.
Now, at the end of two very busy years that have seen new constructions arising out of demolitions, the new £25 million village centre is virtually complete.
By necessity the work has been completed in various phases. The firms that once operated in Station Road were relocated to the new Oakhurst Business Park in 2003. That was followed by the opening of the new Health Centre in a joint enterprise with the Primary Care Trust.
Then came Lintot Square surrounded by modern shops, convenient housing and car parking spaces. And in the summer we unveiled the new Southwater Community Centre - Beeson House - which contains parish council offices, a library, youth centre, a community police office, Citizens Advice Bureau and the Southwater Business Resource Centre which provides training and start-up opportunities.
The final phase is being completed this month with the opening of the new Co-op store along with a doubling of the car parking area, and to celebrate completion of this momentous project there will be a series of special events taking place on Friday, December 15, and Saturday, December 16.
As many people will know, the Southwater area has produced fossilised bones of dinosaurs that roamed the area 100 millions years ago, and I hope that many people will wish to see the unveiling of The Southwater Iguanodon Dinosaur at 1.15pm next Friday, a truly splendid bronze sculpture from artist Hannah Stewart.. There will also be a dinosaur exhibition at Southwater Library from 2.30 pm. whilst traders are running a Find the Dinosaur competition with some exciting prizes.
Next Saturday there will be a whole day of events starting at 10 am and finishing at about 4.35 pm, including a Grand Opening by the star of Jack and Beanstalk, Tanbridge House School band, the Dark Star live band, Elsden School of Dance, West Sussex Trafalgar Concert Band, the Archdeacon of Horsham, a community carol concert, and the arrival of Father Christmas. Details are available in a special programme.
Work on the shell of the new Lintot public house will be complete by December 23 and fitting out of this building will take place in the New Year in readiness for an April opening.
The 10,000+ people of Southwater have been very patient waiting for these splendid new facilities to arrive and I hope that the whole community will be heartened by what has been achieved. I hope also that many will wish to join in the festivities next Friday and Saturday and make this an occasion to be remembered. Whilst so many people should be congratulated for creating this most imaginative new village centre, sincere thanks must go to the scheme's creator, Martin Pearson, who has seen this long term vision become reality.
Ends
Councillor Bernard Baldwin, The Chairman, Horsham District Council, Park North, North Street, Horsham, RH12 1RL.
Email: contactchairman@horsham.gov.uk