£250,000 Scout HQ planned for town

By David Lennard

A PLAN has been submitted for a £250,000 purpose-built Scout and Guide headquarters for a town.

The single-storey building will be constructed on the site of the existing Guide hut in Wissett Road, Halesworth, if councillors give their consent when they meet later this year.

The plan was first unveiled in February to replace the town's Guide hut in Wissett Road and the Scout hut in Chediston Street with one new building.

Both buildings have seen better days and storm damage in the early part of this year meant the Guide hut could no longer be used.

It is estimated that it will cost in the region of £250,000 to build the new hall, which will also be made available for other community groups to use.

The first major task facing Guide and Scout leaders in the town was raising the £1,540 cost of submitting the planning application.

Janet Wright, one of the project organisers, said: "We were hoping that every member would raise £5, but many have far exceeded that.

"All the various age groups have done so well and it just goes to show how much this new building is wanted by people living in the town."

If planning permission is obtained, organisers will have five years to begin building work.

Helen Roscoe, who is also on the organising committee, said: "We will obviously need a huge amount of money to do this and we are hoping to apply for grants and sponsorship."

More than 100 young people aged from five upwards already take part in the various Scout and Guide groups in Halesworth, but that number could increase if a new hut is built.

"There is a shortage of community halls in the area and a new hall will give everyone a lift," said Mrs Roscoe.

Halesworth Town Council is among the organisations backing the project. Waveney District Council will consider the planning application later in the year.

david.lennard@eadt.co.uk