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Commissioners back Albert Road centre
THE GATEWAY CENTRE: Church on the Rocks vision of the proposed community centre for Ramsey
DESPITE the potential for a parking issue to scupper plans for a new community centre, Ramsey Commissioners agreed flexibility should be shown for what they called an important development.
Government representatives will meet with the potential buyers of the former Albert Road school site today (Monday), to agree terms and a price.
Last month Ramsey’s Church on the Rock revealed their proposed plans for the site, including a multi-purpose 400-seat auditorium for concerts, functions and wedding receptions, with smaller multi-purpose halls and rooms for hire and for youth and children’s work, as well as a cafe and modern office suites.
At last week’s commissioners’ meeting, chief technical officer Graham Jones said the Department of Education had decided on the size of the plot to be sold, with government retaining some land, potentially for a car park to be built at a later date.
It meant that the plot available, considering the three-storey size of the building proposed, had space for only about half the parking of what would normally be required.
But Mr Jones added there should be flexibility, given that the facility would get most use at evenings and weekends, when on-street parking in the area is less of an issue.
‘We have an opportunity to see this site developed in a positive way,’ he said. ‘I recommend approval.’
Dr Alex Allinson added: ‘I welcome anyone who wants to put money into Ramsey. Car parking shouldn’t be an issue. It’s in town, people should walk to it. I hope they’re successful.’
Richard Radcliffe added: ‘This is far too important to let 30 car parking spaces stop it.’
Church on the Rock’s Reverend Des Deehan gave an update on the project. ‘Everything has progressed well, including raising enough money to make this a reality,’ he said.
‘We had to prove we could do it, and now we’re absolutely covered, all the funding is in place.
‘There’s no government money – though we did ask – it was secured privately. We could have the money in their account tomorrow.’
Reverend Deehan didn’t foresee any planning obstacles other than the parking issue, though he said the architect had showed there was ample parking in the surrounding area, not to mention the potential public car park that might be built by government.
‘We’re very excited. Expectation is high with people in the town, there is a real desire for this to happen,’ said Reverend Deehan.
‘We’re just trying to expand the community work we’re already doing, at no cost to the government, so it’s win-win.’
He added that if all goes to plan, building would start in the autumn, the development would be complete within two years.’
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Weather for Isle of Man
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
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Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
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