Save Clair Hall group puts forward plan to take lease of Haywards Heath venue to preserve ‘beating heart’ of community

In a recent announcement, the group said it wants to take lease of the site, refurbish it and operate it as a multi-use venue. The group also released artist’s impressions of how Clair Hall could look under the proposal.

If adopted by Mid Sussex District Council, Save Clair Hall said the scheme would let group members carry out ‘essential renovations for a swift re-opening’ of the building.

Member Tim French MBE, director of It’s Magic Events, said: “The need for a space where the community come together is more important post-pandemic than ever, so it’s crucial the real public opinion is honoured, and the community theatre is saved.”

But the group said its plans would only be possible if the District Council ‘ceases its current rhetoric of leasing out the site for redevelopment’. Save Clair Hall added that a recent consultation by BOP Consulting showed that around 65 per cent of respondents wanted Clair Hall to remain and undergo refurbishment.

The group’s suggestion comes after Clair Hall was placed on the Theatres Trust’s ‘Risk Register’ for the second year running. The Save Clair Hall community group said it wants to be involved in the consulting process with the council’s appointed commercial agents Montague Evans.

Member Marion Wilcock said: “There’s a genuine concern that Clair Hall will be demolished just like Martlets Hall in Burgess Hill.”

A Mid Sussex District Council spokesperson said: “We are pleased to have been able to engage with industry leading specialists to support us in building plans to deliver a modern, fit for purpose venue. Retaining expert advisors is enabling us to develop plans for a new facility, as set out in publicly available reports. We have carried out extensive engagement with the community and this is available, along with all other information about Clair Hall, on our engagement hub, engage.midsussex.gov.uk.”

Cllr Jonathan Ash-Edwards, leader of the Conservative group, said: “It’s great news that there is growing support for the need to improve the Clair Hall site. Independent cultural experts have advised that there is a need for change to ensure we have a building that is suitable for the community’s current and future needs, as well as for younger people.“That’s why we will deliver a modern venue, protect performance space and seize the opportunity of having an exciting new venue for the community. We’re also working to secure an experienced cultural anchor tenant to manage it. The site is not, and will not, be sold and will remain in public ownership if Conservatives have a majority at MSDC”.