Save Fairycroft House

Uttlesford is the largest district in Essex, and Saffron Walden its largest town. In the last decade Uttlesford district has lost three centres in Takeley, Newport and Wicken Bonhunt. It would be a shame to witness further erosion of facilities for an expanding population.

Clarance House includes a Library and Adult Learning Centre, enhancing quality of life, providing learning and social opportunities and helping to bond communities. The central community building Fairycroft has served Saffron Walden well as a base for learning and recreation for decades. In recent years it has had very large sums spent on modernising, improving access and redecoration throughout. It would be a great shame if all this public investment was wasted. The building next door would be a very meagre substitute.

Need is increasing for innovative, resourceful approaches to make best use of existing community facilities around Uttlesford and retain them for the benefit of future generations. Dunmow Community and Centre and Library was also said to be under threat of closure, but was given a reprieve. In addition to popular youth club evenings, day time use was expanded to provide special educational services. Perhaps this day time use goes some way towards reducing some of the (necessary but considerable) transport bills which then in turn frees up budgets elsewhere.