A POPULAR bar is under review following a campaign to save two important community centres.

At a Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) community, environment and partnerships committee meeting, campaigners and councillors backed recommendations to protect the Irish Community Centre (ICC) and Basingstoke Carnival Hall Community Centre (BCHCC) from having to share a new building.

The committee heard how influential the centres are and agreed with portfolio holder Cllr Simon Bound’s recommendation against initial redevelopment plas for the Top of The Town, which would have seen the buildings in Council Road demolished and a new one built.

However, Cllr Bound did state he would recommend a review of ICC’s bar facilities as part of the plan.

Cllr Bound added: “What I can commit to is what we implement with new facilities, I personally would recommend officers look at activities taking place in every facility whether existing or new.

“If we had serious concerns about activities taking place, yes we would take action but it’s absolutely about making sure we as a council get the best use of our facilities.”

He added: “It’s heartening to have so many people come to a committee meeting because often we as councillors only get to talk amongst ourselves and not with the users.”

In 2002, BDBC employed a new policy that stated it would no longer support social clubs as the emphasis in those groups are on social activities and not on community activities. 

Andy McFadden, chairman of the ICC, said: “Firstly I would like to thank Basingstoke council for letting us have the facilities for the last 26 years.

“I commend the council for carrying out the feasibility test and endorse the findings of that study.

“One point to make from the study. We totally refute the assumption that the bar is viewed by the community as some sort of cultural need. It’s the proceeds from the bar that is a vital source of revenue to maintain the building and carry out our charitable obligations.”

More than 70 members of the public and campaigners packed out the committee meeting room to show their support for both centres.

Campaigners from both ICC and BCHCC were given the opportunity to plead their case to ensure neither building would be forced to close.

Kishor Patel, vice-chairman of the Basingstoke Hindu Society which is based at BCHCC, said: “As you know Carnival Hall has been at the heart of the Basingstoke community for a long time.

“The hall was constructed in 1964 from funds donated by the people of Basingstoke, carnivals, grants from local council and patrons.

“It’s a very historical building at the very heart of the community.
“It’s important to the Basingstoke community that we leave such a nice legacy for our children, our children’s children and for the next generation.”

Penny Corper, representing the Irish dancers, who use the ICC, added: “Five-and-a-half-years ago, my granddaughter started her Irish dancing lessons and has since made lots of friends. There is a strong bond between them whatever the age. They use the facilities to train toward events like the World Championships.

“If you take this away from them, there will be nowhere else for them to go.

"To be able to meet at the ICC is great for everyone. It’s not just dancing for them. It’s a way of life. By closing such a building it would affect their wellbeing.”

Recommendations from the meeting will be given to BDBC’s cabinet at the end of September.

It is expected to mean that £420,000 investment would then be made available from BDBC to both ICC and BCHCC, as well as other community centre Chute House.

Each would receive a portion of the money made available.