THE VILLAGE HOME

March 2011

While the Club are still awaiting payment from BAE SYSTEMS for the name change and repair work to take place, work has begun on refurbishing the Club as a whole. The work requires the help of volunteers to keep costs down and work will be taking place throughout 2011. You can see a list of the jobs that are planned here, with completed jobs highlighted.

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January 2011

The Club held its AGM on January 22nd informing members of the progress that had been made in the last year. The members were also informed of a proposal put forward by BAE SYSTEMS to pay for the Club to formally change its name to The Village and for repair work to take place on areas of the Club that were needed. During the meeting, the members voted for the Management Committee for the first time in years due to changes implemented in the Constitution be BAE SYSTEMS which had previously prevented all members bar BAE Employees from voting. Minutes of the meeting are available here

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2010

After facing the possibility of closure in late 2009, there was a large amount of restructuring and staffing cuts during 2010 to make the Club more viable and self sufficient. In addition the first changes were made to the outdated Constitution, which would ensure that the Club would always remain a non profit business with any money made being invested in the Club's facilities or in the Community. These changes would also allow the Club to apply for a reduction in business rates which could potentially save the Club £16k PA. the Club finished the year, making a slight loss due to ever increasing amenity bills, but having its most successful years for a long time.

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December 2009

BAE SYSTEMS informed the Club that they had to reach a target of 1200 members, (the amount required to give the Club sufficient funds to run for the next year), then the Club would close in January 2010. After an advertising and leaflet campaign and thanks to a large number of members who helped out, the Club made this target in mid December meaning that the Club would remain open for 2010.

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September 2009

After several meetings with Medway Council, it is clear that the plaaning permission required for the sale of the land will not be given. Medway Council state their reasons as the land being outside the boundary of the village and being public open space. BAE SYSTEMS Property Services decide that this avenue can no longer be pursued in the face of such adversity from the Council, despite making their point that the Club would not survive without the sale and that the local community would lose an important amenity.

Business plans are currently being drawn up to take the Club away from BAE SYSTEMS and run it as a separate business. An EGM will be held on Tuesday 3rd November from 7.00pm and all members are invited to attend.

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March 2009

With Medway Council and Sport England both pushing to refuse the planning application, the club sent out letters to members asking them to show their support for the plans and for the Club. Despite overwhelming support Medway Council and Sport England do not change their stance and BAE SYSTEMS Property Services withdraw the application and release this statement.

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December 2008

As a result of several meetings between BAE SYSTEMS Property Services and Medway council, a revised application for planning permission was submitted in late December. This application will be heard and decided on by 20th March 2009.

For a full view of the plans submitted click here MC2008/2021

Unfortunately, we have not been given any further information than what is here at the moment. Once we have been updated by BAR SYSTEMS Property Services we will pass the information onto our members,

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August 2008

The Club closes for 3 1/2 weeks to allow the police to run an operation for the Club. The money that the Club receives means that it can stay open for the forthcoming year, instead of looking at the possibility of closing before Christmas 2008.

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July 2008

BAE SYSTEMS Property Services have lodged an appeal to the original decision to deny planning permission for the land to the east of Bells Lane. This appeal will be heard by 17th November 2008. In the meantime, BAE are working with Medway council to find alternative ways to keep the Club open should the appeal be unsuccessful.

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April 2008

On 30th April, representatives from BAE SYSTEMS Rochester and BAE SYSTEMS Property Services held a meeting with Medway Council. The aim of the meeting was to explain why the sale of the land was necassary to enusre the future of the Club. Medway Council have announced that they will hold a meeting on Wednesday June 11th 2008 to make a decision on the proposals put forward at the meeting. If they are in agreement, BAE will resubmit plans in line with Council recommendations, if not, they will have until 2nd July 2008 to appeal against the decision in January.

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February 2008

BAE SYSTEMS Property Services have organised a meeting with the development committee of Medway Council on April 30th to put to them the importance of the sale of the land for the future of the Club. with BAE SYSTEMS no longer funding the Club, there is a possibility that it may close without finanncial assitance, due to spiralling amenity costs and the problems caused by a 40 year old building.

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2nd January 2008

Medway Council rejected the planning permission in its entirety.

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23rd October 2007

Medway Council have registered the planning application and have given a decision date of 22nd January 2008. BAE SYSTEMS Property Services will soon be starting a 21 day public consultation to involve members and the local community in the planning.

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24th September 2007

BAE SYSTEMS Property Services submitted outline planning permission to Medway Council to seek permission to build on the land to the East of Bells Lane with a view to selling the land.

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13th June 2007

BAE SYSTEMS Property Services hold two public consultations at the Club and at BAE SYSTEMS Rochester involving the company who are planning the redevelopments, Atisreal. Over 600 members and villagers attended the Consultation at the Club and questionnaires were handed out with more comments collected to use towards further plans. Plans show the moving of the football pitches to include two full size pitches on the top pitch and the possible moving of the bowls green adjacent to the cricket pitch.

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October 2006

A copy of the outline plan is put up in the foyer of the Club and members are asked for their input during the membership renewals. The comments are then handed to BAE SYSTEMS Property Services who start to work on more detailed plans.

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June 2006

BAE SYSTEMS Property Services meet with the Management Committee of the Club to show some rough plans for the refurbishment of the Club and talk about ideas and what would be required to keep the Club going for the forseeable future.

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Autumn 2005

With the Club struggling to remain self sufficient financially, it is decided to look at the possibility of raising money for the Club by selling the land to the East of Bells Lane. This is highlighted by the success of the Club at the Chelmsford site, on which work had just been completed leaving the Club with up to date facilities and the ability to successfully survive for years to come. Plans could include a gymnasium, a sports hal and the rebuilding of the squash courts as well as renovation of the swimming pool and other Club facilities.

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Each of the links below is for a PDF file showing various plans that have been put forward for the sale of the land and redevelopment of the Club. Please note that these plans are far from finalised and BAE SYSTEMS Property Services are currently working through the questionnaires filled out by members to put forward more plans with members views expressed in them.

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You may or may not be aware, but since October 2005, BAE SYSTEMS have been looking at the possibility of redeveloping the land to the East of Bells Lane.

Currently on this land is the Clubs bowls green and one of the football pitches. Plans are being put together to redevelop this land for housing and use some of the money from the sale to redevelop the Club to provide first class facilities to its members and ensure that the Club will be able to continue for many years to come.

Plans that are currently in consideration include two possibilities for the bowls green. One is to keep the green where it is and the other is to move it to the current site of the Clubs tennis courts, which have been unused since the early 1990s.

There are many rumours circulating regarding the redevelopment and sale of the land and this section of the website will hopefully put peoples minds at rest and put a stop to the rumours. As information is given to the Club from BAE SYSTEMS Property Services, these pages will be updated to keep you, the member, up to date. The current set of plans and a diary showing what has happened so far and what is happening next are available via the links at the top of the page.

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