‘It could be best thing for Rose Hill in years’

7:00pm Wednesday 14th November 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Mark Taylor, Reporter. Please call me on (01865) 425411

Architect Simon Kneafsey shows residents, from left, Julia Woodley, Sheila Cudlip and Sharon Bates how the community centre could look Buy this photo » Architect Simon Kneafsey shows residents, from left, Julia Woodley, Sheila Cudlip and Sharon Bates how the community centre could look

IT COULD be the best thing to happen to Rose Hill in a lifetime. That is the view of one resident who has been given a glimpse of plans for a new £1m community centre hub ahead of Saturday’s crunch vote on the proposals. From 10am to 8pm, residents can visit the existing centre to cast their vote on whether to renovate the current community centre or splash out on an entirely new build.

Some, including Pete Wilkinson, aged 68, have already pored over the designs.

And for him and several residents of Alice and Margaret House in Rose Hill, the new model is the popular choice.

He said: “I really hope that people go for the new plans.

“We deserve a decent community centre here that is much more up to date and has all the facilities that are needed.

“I particularly like the fact everything is under one roof and there will be plenty for the kids to do. It has much better sports facilities, and the community cafe too which I think is a great idea.

“I’ve lived here for more than 30 years and I think it is the best thing that has happened to Rose Hill for many, many, years.

“I strongly hope that it is what people will go for.”

Sharon Bates, 52, who has lived her entire life in Rose Hill, said the new community centre could bring in a new dawn for the estate. She said: “We are keeping our fingers crossed for this, the new community centre looks out of this world and really would benefit the entire neighbourhood. “There are so many positive things, from the cafe to the sports provisions. I work near here too and our offices could move down to the hub. It could be the start of something really good for Rose Hill. “There is the social aspect too, we don’t have a pub here so this will really bring peopple together.”

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If a new community centre is built, the existing site at The Oval could be freed up for housing, including affordable homes.

Land at Ashhurst Way, beside the Co-op Nursery, has been earmarked as a site for a new hub, which would bring several services under one roof, including the social club, advice centre, sports pavilion and youth club.

The plans are on show at the Rose Hill and Donnington advice centre today between 9am and noon and the Rose Hill children’s centre tomorrow from 11.30am to 2pm.

The new centre would overlook the recreation ground on the site of the existing Rose Hill and Donnington advice centre.

Saturday’s ballot will help inform Oxford City Council’s final decision, as the authority would own the building.

If residents vote to press ahead with a new centre it could be completed by early 2015.

The cost of a new centre will be supported by £435,000 of contributions from developers.

Also on show will be artwork created by different community groups with artist Tiffany Black.

Comments (7)

10:26pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Myron Blatz says...

I think a lot depen upon whether the new facility is used as a proper community centre, or highjacked again as a gloryfied boozer for the local social club mafia? Like so many commnunity centres in Oxford, the City Council did very little maintaining of the building at Rose Hill over the years, with the toilets not being one of its more memorable features. Maybe instead of cafe and bar facilities, the new community centre would hugely benefit from a much-needed doctor's surgery.
I think a lot depen upon whether the new facility is used as a proper community centre, or highjacked again as a gloryfied boozer for the local social club mafia? Like so many commnunity centres in Oxford, the City Council did very little maintaining of the building at Rose Hill over the years, with the toilets not being one of its more memorable features. Maybe instead of cafe and bar facilities, the new community centre would hugely benefit from a much-needed doctor's surgery. Myron Blatz

4:08am Thu 15 Nov 12

bcole says...

Certainly, build a new community centre, the old one has been on that site since the mid 1950`s. I well remember shows put on by Jackie Bebbington dancers, my sister was in some of those. A new purpose built centre would be great, but the old one has served the locals well.
I live in Adelaide,Australia and have done so since 1975, but keep up to date with Oxford news via the Oxford Mail on line. I do have photo`s of jackie bebbington shows at rose hill community centre taken in 1957/58 if anyone wants to see them via an attachment on line.
bcole@adam.com.au bryan cole
Certainly, build a new community centre, the old one has been on that site since the mid 1950`s. I well remember shows put on by Jackie Bebbington dancers, my sister was in some of those. A new purpose built centre would be great, but the old one has served the locals well. I live in Adelaide,Australia and have done so since 1975, but keep up to date with Oxford news via the Oxford Mail on line. I do have photo`s of jackie bebbington shows at rose hill community centre taken in 1957/58 if anyone wants to see them via an attachment on line. bcole@adam.com.au bryan cole bcole

6:41am Thu 15 Nov 12

Sandy Wimpole-Smythe says...

‘It could be best thing for Rose Hill in years’

First word that came to mind - demolition !!
‘It could be best thing for Rose Hill in years’ First word that came to mind - demolition !! Sandy Wimpole-Smythe

7:28am Thu 15 Nov 12

Simon33 says...

Hope Rose Hill gets its new building.
Hope Rose Hill gets its new building. Simon33

2:58pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Myron Blatz says...

Now, let's see what else the nevious people of Rose Hill want, that Blackbird Leys have - an half-olympis sized swimming pool, and buses every three minutes? Labour has thrown £millions at these big council estates, whilst the rest of Oxford suffers - especially those not controlled by Bob Price's merry men and women!
Now, let's see what else the nevious people of Rose Hill want, that Blackbird Leys have - an half-olympis sized swimming pool, and buses every three minutes? Labour has thrown £millions at these big council estates, whilst the rest of Oxford suffers - especially those not controlled by Bob Price's merry men and women! Myron Blatz

3:29pm Thu 15 Nov 12

King Joke says...

Myron Blatz wrote:
I think a lot depen upon whether the new facility is used as a proper community centre, or highjacked again as a gloryfied boozer for the local social club mafia? Like so many commnunity centres in Oxford, the City Council did very little maintaining of the building at Rose Hill over the years, with the toilets not being one of its more memorable features. Maybe instead of cafe and bar facilities, the new community centre would hugely benefit from a much-needed doctor's surgery.
Surely the toilets *were* memorable, albeit for the wrong reasons?
[quote][p][bold]Myron Blatz[/bold] wrote: I think a lot depen upon whether the new facility is used as a proper community centre, or highjacked again as a gloryfied boozer for the local social club mafia? Like so many commnunity centres in Oxford, the City Council did very little maintaining of the building at Rose Hill over the years, with the toilets not being one of its more memorable features. Maybe instead of cafe and bar facilities, the new community centre would hugely benefit from a much-needed doctor's surgery.[/p][/quote]Surely the toilets *were* memorable, albeit for the wrong reasons? King Joke

6:38pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Myron Blatz says...

Not sure, 'King Joke' but did hear that when it rains a lot, the toilet floors become 'self-cleaning' and that damp has been a problem, though his probably applies to many of the minimally-maintained City Council properties, where the motto seems to be 'if it ain't broke and doesn't need fixing, then it ain't one of ours.'
Not sure, 'King Joke' but did hear that when it rains a lot, the toilet floors become 'self-cleaning' and that damp has been a problem, though his probably applies to many of the minimally-maintained City Council properties, where the motto seems to be 'if it ain't broke and doesn't need fixing, then it ain't one of ours.' Myron Blatz

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