A meeting was arranged by Milton Keynes City Council on June 12th 2024 to update GHRA on the now completed feasibility study that was looking into how best to provide a long term space for residents.
Construction of two new classrooms at the Watling Way Centre
Reconfiguration of the Watling Way Centre hall to use as a dual purpose hall
Removal of stairs and ramp to the former Small Meeting Place
Replacement of the parapet wall on the balcony of the SMP with low-maintenance railings
New gate to the front of the former Arts Centre
New fencing to the rear of the former Arts Centre
Removal of the children’s play area adjacent to the former Arts Centre
Play area to be re-landscaped and converted into a community garden leased to either GHRA or SSTC (who in turn would have a service agreement with GHRA)
Short-Term use of the former Arts Centre by GHRA prior to the charities moving in
The decision to proceed with these proposals and move on to procurement and awarding the contract for the works is scheduled for the 9th of July.
These extracts from the presentation show the site before works began:
And how the site may look after all works are completed:
Have your say!
This will be a key talking point for this months residents meeting, if you want to have a say in how GHRA responds to these proposals come along to the school hall Thursday 20 June at 7pm.
Under pressure from GHRA Milton Keynes Council agree to spend £390,000 to renovate the Community Centre. Following representations from residents on Galley Hill led by GHRA spokesman Paul Randall, Stony Stratford Town Councillor Roy Adams, GHRA chair David Taverner and GHRA committee member Sue Fitch, Pete Marland, Leader of Milton Kes Council announced at the full MK Council meeting on Wednesday 24th February that MKC will spend £390,000 to renovate the Community Centre on Galley Hill.It has been three years since the former Arts Centre part of the building was closed, and since then, the council had repeatedly said that they would look to renovate the building and bring it back to community use. Following complaints by residents in the recent MK budget consultation that the community centre renovation had been “missed out” from the budget numbers, Paul Randall lobbied Stony Stratford Town Council sucessfully to write to Milton Keynes Council to ask for funding for the community centre. Paul, Roy, David and Sue gave advance notice of “questions from members of the public” about the funding on order paper of the MK Council’s meeting on Wednesday night. At the start of the debate on the budget , Peter Marland announced that funding would be made available. All GHRA’s hard work in this area has finally paid off!
Thank you to all involved and everyone who supported the GHRA by filling in the recent survey and helping apply pressure on MKC.
Website for the Galley Hill Residents Association, Milton Keynes
