Aibu? probably.

[cooeeyonlyme]

Hi everyone.

I am currently looking into starting a dance group for the local children in my area. I have approached my community centre and church hall to enquire about prices etc... only to be told that a business rents out both halls every single night from 4pm to 10pm (Expensive dance classes). The lady who runs the dance classes only takes on those who are at a certain level so nobody in the community actually goes.

I told the vicar who runs both halls that it isn't very fair at all.
Aibu to be pretty damn annoyed?

Well yes I think so, she has the booking first and pays for it. I don't think the vicar can start making stipulations about who hires the hall.

What about the school hall or weekends?

YABU. Of course its fair. If the halls are already booked, then they are already booked. They could just as easily be booked by a zumba class or Slimming World.

I would guess you were told you couldn't join or more likely your precious ones were not of the required standard and in a fit of pique went down the route of "i shall start my own one" add a "community" badge to it and hope the vicar falls for the ruse.

By all means start a group - but don't expect the vicar to turn away a regular paying business for a mother whose nose is out of joint whose classes will fold when her little darlings get bored.

You cant have the hall (your kids aren't to the standard??). Thats life. Get a helmet.

I have to pay money every month, as does everyone else in my community for our community centre and non of us can actually use it.

It's not just me, it's a gang of us who have decided to do something for the kids because we have nothing here for them to do. I'm not bothered about someone else using it but every single night?

Flowery. Slimming world is held in the pub because the hall is booked fully up by one woman.

voiceofnoreason that was a bit harsh wasnt it?

Bops. That's why i completely ignored the post.

Er, ok. My point is if its booked up it's booked up, but you seem to think it's unfair that it's booked up because of who it is. Did you really expect the vicar to turf her out because your class is more "worthy"?

I think it sounds a bit off that they have the hall every single night.

That kind of excludes everyone else, and flies in the face of the words "community" hall.

Not sure what you can do about it though. I would try having a word with the vicar, but failing that is there perhaps another hall you could hire that is not too far away?

No not really flowery. I asked if any slots come available to let us all know. She said she highly doubt it as the other ladies business has taken off.

All i need is an hour a week, no more. At any time too.
I don't see why any of us in my community has extra money taken out of our council tax for these buildings if non of us are actually able to use them. We all pay £15 per month for the up keep of the buildings and the park. Now a business is using these building.

Even the Rainbows can't use them, they moved villages!

I actually think yanbu. It's a church hall, these are generally used for the community - especially if you all have to pay towards it. She's essentially using it as cheap business premises and preventing anyone else from getting a look in.
That said, not a damn thing you can do about it I suppose. She was there first.

Hi cooee,

Is there a management comittee for the community centre? I would approach them, if it has charitable status then its constitution probably says something about meeting the needs of the local community and equality of access to services. I'd also find out how the centre is funded - lottery money etc usually has strings attached.

How do you pay every month? I'd be looking at that arrangement very closely. Are there other community groups struggling to find venues? It might be worth getting together to approach those in power/local press.

She has the monopoly surely that's not fair. And I fail to see what being rude to your quest is of any help. Things aren't fair but it doesn't mean you have to be happy about it

Question not quest bloody phone

I think you have a point about community access. The other dance teacher must be very tired.

Hey Dolly. We get a council tax bill with a little bit and the end which says
Cooeey's village blah blah. It's £15 per month.

The management consists of the vicar, her husband, he daughter, the lady who's business uses the halls, the local pub landlady, the post master and a couple of elderly gentlemen. It's not voted in, the comittee pick and choose who they have.

Literally non of us can use it, we can for birthdays parties on saturday and sunday between 9am and 4pm but that's it.

Actually I don't think you are being completely unreasonable. I don't think that a community provision that the local residents pay into should be utilised by a single business - if the Rainbows troop has had to move due to it then actually that is negatively impacting the community.

I would table something at the Parish Council to discuss how to widen partcipation without becoming a not viable proposition.

Lottie- The lady who owns the business employs dance teachers. It's a proper business.
But yes, it is about community access.

I just wanted something nice for the local kids. I wouldn't be making any money from it.
I should point out that both halls are actually joined together, they're two big halls divided by a hallway.

OP, is your monthly contribution voluntary or compulsory, how is it collected, what exactly is it for, do you have an agreement?

Who manages the community centre etc. as stated above there should be a committee with a constitution.

Does this person really monopolize the halls 24/7

Ask the local primary school if you can book their hall.

Why don't you run your class on a Saturday morning?

It's taken straight out of my council tax Feet up.
Where is it itemised on my ct bill it says..
Fire
police
village cash
Just looked and it's actually £12.50 not £15

Lone cat nobody is allowed to do clubs on those days. Halls are reserved to hire out for parties.