Former pub set to become community hub

A former pub has been bought by a council wanting to turn it into a community hub.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council said it would lease the Beacon pub building on Kings Road, South Ham, to housing provider Sovereign Network Group (SNG), who were working with Westside Community Association (WCA) to provide a community space.

The council said it hoped the building would reopen later in the year.

Nicky Blunden from WCA said the opportunity meant they could "ensure key services remain available for the community".

"With help from SNG and the council, we're excited to start to shape ideas to maximise the use of the space at the new facility," she said

WCA has been looking for more space for its community activities since the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (raac) forced the closure of Westside Community Centre and South Ham Library.

The council said that it, alongside SNG, had been supporting WCA in their search, and that Russell Howard Park, the Ridgeway Centre in Buckskin, and a new shop in Kings Road were all being used to deliver services such as a community cafe and pantry.

The council's cabinet member for communities, partnerships and inclusion, John McKay, said the WCA's services were important to the local community.

"We have been doing everything we can to explore opportunities for temporary space in the heart of South Ham to support them to restart more activities for residents of all ages," he said.

"The purchase of this building provides a unique space to provide these life changing activities in a central and accessible location."

He said the council was working to firm up the plans, as well as looking at a more long-term solution.

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