Hartfield Road car park site

A building fund was started in 1951 and a Community Centre Sub-Committee set up which presented a comprehensive memorandum to the Borough Council's Housing, Town Planning and Building Committee. The deputation was told that the Housing Committee 'would not be averse to' the car park site in Hartfield Road being considered for joint use as a community centre and car park. The Committee agreed that when the Surrey's Development Plan was received consideration would be given to the designation of a suitable site for a community centre. (It wasn't, as it transpired, and subsequently the Highways Committee decided against the Hartfield Road plan, considering it to be impracticable.)

Other potential sites

The WCA had also expressed an interest in the Worple Road church site as a possible community centre but the London Union of the Congregational Church stated that the title of the property was somewhat obscure and regretted that it was not in a position to consider the sale thereof at that time.

(In June 1954 the Borough Council announced that the disused church had been acquired to be used as a community centre and in October that year it was occupied by the WCA.)

Without prejudice to the plea for a centrally situated Centre, the Executive Committee had asked for a Neighbourhood Centre to be included in the development plans of the Isolation Hospital site in Gap Road. It had also expressed interest in the bombed Employment Exchange site in Merton Road, near South Wimbledon tube, which was controlled by the Ministry of Works. Transfer of control was possible only if the Ministry could develop for government office purposes its site in Southey Road.

1954 and hall that

By 1954, the stage of development of the WCA made the need for a community centre increasingly evident. The Association doggedly pursued action at Borough Council, County Council and Ministry levels.
By this stage WCA handled the year on year contracts for the hire of the Public Hall at the Town Hall. This was a sizeable job involving in the 1953-54 season scores of agreement forms, over 120 hours of rehearsals, and payments to the Corporation of Wimbledon of more than £600.
Other halls then available to local groups were Marlborough Hall, the Baths Hall, Compton Hall, the Drill Hall, the Legion Hall and the Coronation Hall.

St George's Hall

WCA's first use of St George's Hall was for the Christmas Fair in November 1953 but it was not until 1st October 1954 that the Association came into the occupation of the premises. Through its affiliation to the National Federation of Community Associations, much appreciated and valuable advise throughout the negotiations leading to the acquisition was available.
The accommodation comprised a sizeable main hall, a minor hall, lounge and kitchen and within six months over 25 local organisations had used the facility. The success achieved inspired the Association to consider the development of the large church site adjoining as soon as a title to the ground could be established. An item in the Annual Report at the 1956 AGM states: "After a number of unavoidable delays the derelict church in Worple Road has been acquired. The demolition of the present building and the eventual erection of a new Community Centre on the site will of necessity involve very heavy expenditure". Hopes were very high for a significant broadening of the Associations potential.

One year later, the demolition of the old Congregational Church was completed and a board erected on the site indicating its eventual use and making an appeal for donations. The appeal for £5,000 was launched in November 1956 to repay heavy debts in the purchase of St George's Hall and to provide money for further expansion. Unfortunately the date coincided with the National Appeal for the Hungarian Refugees and it was not surprising, although disappointing, that the response was not better.

Extension

Mention of the church site does not occur in subsequent Annual Reports. The Fifteenth AGM, however, records the opening of the extension. The Chairman of the Surrey County Council, Alderman Sydney W L Ripley, JP, DL, performed the official opening on the 25th February 1961. The Mayor, Alderman P Corbishly welcomed the assembled company, Sir Cyril Black introduced Alderman Ripley and the Rev Canon Leslie Wright, Vicar of Wimbledon, offered a Prayer of Dedication.

Forty plus years on we are still occupying those premises, shoe-horning room lettings into what slots are available, fighting creeping dilapidation and surviving without any outside financial support.
We need a new Centre, and by all who have gone before, we are going to get one.

Fran O'Toole
General Secretary
June 2003.

B) To establish or secure the establishment of, a community centre and to maintain and manage the same (whether alone or in co-operation with any local authority or other person) in furtherance of these objects. 

C) To promote such other charitable purposes as may from time to time be determined.