SAVE CLAIR HALL

08/09/2026

*** HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US ***

Six years ago today the 'Save Clair Hall' campaign group came into being.

Its certainly been a rollercoaster of a ride thus far. We'd like to thank all our followers and friends for your support over the years. It's very much appreciated.

Rest assured we're not finished yet, and like all the years before we'll continue to keep an eye on things.

05/09/2026

An interesting story from Sevenoaks, where the Town Council is campaigning to buy its local theatre from the District Council to safeguard it as a community asset.

But the local authority is having to purchase the freehold from its counterpart council.

14/08/2026

*** WHAT IS GOING ON? ***

“What is going on with Clair Hall?”

That was the question we overheard as we walked along Perrymount Road the other day. Rather than stop the couple concerned and tell them – It got us pondering also.

So what is going on? The last update on the MSDC Engagement Hub website was in April! Not a lot more has been said since then. To save you the trouble this is what it say’s –

What we are seeking from a developer
We are seeking developer proposals that can realise a new cultural facility while ensuring the project is both viable and sustainable for the long term. Achieving viability will depend on integrating residential units into the development, which is expected to create much needed homes. These discussions are crucial for communicating, our and the community’s priorities, and giving developers the opportunity to clarify requirements as they prepare their bids. Our ambition is to secure proposals that not only deliver a high-quality community facility but also adopt designs that are in harmony with their surroundings, enhancing the character and cohesion of existing developments in the area.

Enabling comprehensive plans for the site
To facilitate the proposed cultural and residential development at Clair Hall, we have published a Section 123 Notice regarding the intended disposal of a modest area of open space on the site's perimeter. This is a necessary step to enable developers to submit comprehensive proposals for the entire site, incorporating both community and housing elements. We are clear in our expectation that developers will maintain landscaping and greening standards in their plans, in line with the quality of other local developments. A plan can be inspected at the reception desk at the District Council offices (Oaklands, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath) or by emailing [email protected](External link) or phoning 01444 477577. The section 123 notice went into the local paper on 26 March and 2 April. The deadline for responses to be sent to [email protected](External link) is 12 noon on Friday 24 April.

Next steps
We anticipate appointing a developer in the autumn of 2026. Once selected, the developer will collaborate closely with the District Council and our newly appointed Cultural Operator, to develop plans reflecting our ambitions for the site. The planning process will include opportunities for local residents to engage on the proposed designs and provide feedback before any final decisions are made by the relevant committee.

Well were a little closer to the autumn now – we wait with interest.
As always we’ll be keeping a close eye on things.

10/08/2026

COP(thorne) A LOAD OF THIS! (Sorry it was the best we could come up with)

Now petitioning to reopen a valuable and much needed ‘Community Hub’ is our ex-MP Mims Davies.

What a shame that it seems to have taken six years to recognise the value of community venues. Or perhaps it’s just a case of, once bitten………

13/07/2026

Five years on the Theatres Trust “at risk’ register. See our comment in the comments!

The venue is due to become a four-screen luxury cinema

29/06/2026

*** LET’S STAND BACK AND MARVEL AT THE MAGNIFICENCE ***

As some of you may know we’ve been pursuing TPO’s for the trees on the Clair Hall site.

After lodging an appeal to the original decision not to grant TPO’s which upheld the Tree Officers position we submitted a Stage One complaint to MSDC relating to the processes involved and for the perceived lack of reference to all the evidence we submitted relating to the risk that we think the tree’s face in light of the land being disposed of to developers.

As we guessed the powers that be are satisfied with the processes involved.

We also called for a review of the conifer tree’s (Sorry we mean hedge) on the eastern side of the site. MSDC won’t be swayed on this point so we have to accept that these fine specimens are a hedge!!

That got us thinking and researching and whist Haywards Heath can’t lay claim to the world record for hedges that is held by the Meikleour Beech Hedge in Perthshire, Scotland . Recognized by Guinness World Records as the tallest and longest hedge on Earth, it reaches up to 100 feet (30m) in height and stretches for 530 meters (a third of a mile)

Neither can we claim its England's tallest hedge. That title goes to the Cirencester Park Yew Hedge in Gloucestershire. Planted in 1720, this monumental green wall stands 40 to 43 feet (12 to 13 meters) tall and 150 to 510 feet long, making it the largest of its kind in the world.

But perhaps we have a claim over Sussex’s tallest hedge.
This’ll get the visitors flocking to the Heath.

05/06/2026

*** EVER WANTED TO BE IN PANTO? ***

Our friends at the Weald Theatre Group (still going strong despite losing Clair Hall after 50 years of occupation!) are holding auditions for their January production of ‘Aladdin’ on Sunday the 28th of June 2026.

All are welcome whatever your age or acting ability. There are loads of roles up for grabs so if you fancy yourself as the next Aladdin, Widow Twanky or even the Emperor of Peking! they’d like to hear from you.

It’s great fun with a great group of people. For more info contact them on the email address given.

If it helps – we’ve had a little look at the script. It’s hilarious. Oh yes it is

04/06/2026

*** TREE (or should that be Hedge) PRESERVATION ORDER UPDATE ***

As you may recall a month or so ago we made several Tree Preservation Order applications to protect the trees on the Clair Hall site.

These six applications were dismissed as the council explained that the trees were not under threat! And curiously the line of conifers on the eastern edge of the site were deemed to be a hedge and therefore not trees at all! Even though they stand some 30 to 40 feet tall!

So we appealed this decision and as you can guess MSDC would not budge. The final paragraph of the letter dealt with our observations on the so called hedge. It said, -

‘In the case of the conifer line, previously managed as a hedge, again, MSDC, in the absence of a written definition, defines a hedge as a line of trees or shrubs which have been managed as a hedge in the past. This has served us well in terms of a definition for the purposes of Section 211 Notices and providing advice to the public. Therefore, if a line of trees has been managed as a hedge, they then become a hedge and not a line of trees. Again, this has been our practice for around the last 10 years. Of course, it is open to you, to test this in the courts, if you believe it to be inadequate.’

But there is a written definition. The Cambridge English Dictionary has one. - HEDGE a line of bushes or SMALL trees planted very close together, especially along the edge of a garden, field, or road.

I don’t think anyone inspecting these conifers would ever say that they are small and they're not on the edge! The hedge is!

I think we’ll all have to agree to disagree on this one.

It’s rather reminiscent of the time MSDC insisted that Clair Hall wasn’t a theatre despite the obvious fully equipped auditorium and many shows that had previously been performed there.

As always we welcome your comments and we’ll be keeping a close eye on things.

14/05/2026

*** TPO Applications Update ***

Today a request for a review of the council’s decision not to grant Tree Preservation Orders on a number of trees on the Clair Hall site was sent to the councils Tree Officer.

Along with the request was accompanying evidence to support that the trees are under threat from future development on the site.

Evidence was also provided by way of the 2022 Arboricultural Survey commissioned by MSDC which references the conifers on the eastern side of the site as trees and not hedge as stated in the original response.

When we hear more we will of course update further. Until that time, as always we’ll be keeping a close eye on things.

08/05/2026

**CAN’T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES (or Hedges) **

You may recall that a couple of weeks ago we made applications to protect a lot of the well-established trees on the site. We’ve had a reply.

All six applications have been refused.

Citing that the trees are not under significant threat!!

And then there was this – ‘I should point out, that in relation to your request regarding the conifers adjacent to the car park, that these trees have been maintained as a hedge, therefore would not qualify for protection by TPO. ‘

We have some questions and observations that we’ll address in the coming weeks.

Attached is an image of Clair Hall’s magnificent (and probably record breaking) hedge! What do you think?

We welcome your comments and as always we’ll be keeping a close eye on things.