CCCP UPDATE NEWS
JULY 2003


The Church Community Centre Project (CCCP)
An update from The Vicar

Although it may seem that nothing has been happening at St Cedd’s since our Consultation evening, I can assure you that there has been a great deal of thoughtful activity, if only behind the scenes.

The hope that lay behind the local Consultation was that there would be local partners who would support our project, and co-operate with us in developing what we believed (and still believe!) was a fresh vision for the area, using the opportunities given to us by the situation of St Cedd’s as central to the Shrub End estate and area. Sadly, although many were excited by the project, and wanted to see it happen, the offers of practical help and co-operation were not forthcoming, which left us with two options.

Option 1. We could go it alone. This would be a major financial commitment, well above the limits of the Goulding bequest, and our other assets. The PCC could not commit to such an option, with the financial demands which would not be sustainable in the long term.

Option 2. Limit the spending to an improvement of the current facilities without overstretching our limited resources in terms of financial commitment, and the sustaining of the development in terms of human resources.

The PCC took the decision which I feel to have been the only real option available to us: Option 2, as described above. This means that we are committed to improving the conditions at St Cedd’s, without extending it, according to the plans originally set out at the Consultation. The work has already begun to asses how this can best be done.



There is shortly to be a massive clearout of the years of accumulated clutter which is to be found everywhere. All the current users are being asked to identify and take responsibility for everything there, and everything which is not claimed will be thrown out.

The main priorities will be the kitchen and toilet facilities. The first priority is to refurbish the current kitchen, including fitting a new pitched roof, and ventilation system, to avoid the condensation which has caused so much damage to the walls. All the current fittings would be replaced, and walls, ceiling and floors made good, in accordance with the EU Health and Safety guidelines. The toilets will also be replaced, and a major rethink of the whole of the entrance area will take place shortly, including the provision of disabled toilet facilities. (We are already negotiating the installation of disabled toilet at All Saints, as this will soon be required by law.)

To ensure that all this is taken further, two new teams have been set up by the authority of the PCC, with responsibility for St Cedd’s. One is the “St Cedd’s Management Team” who will have overall responsibility for the running of the site, including bookings, as well as cleaning and maintenance. The second team will be the “Structural Team” who will have responsibility for the planned building and alterations.

I commend this decision to the parish, hoping that our plans will soon bear fruit for the whole parish, as we take this step - less bold than we had originally planned, perhaps, but nevertheless one which will enhance our presence and ministry through the whole of our Parish of Shrub End.



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