A valuable and loved community and cultural hub for my family

I moved to Haywards Heath from London 16 years ago and from the start Clair Hall and the Redwood Centre have been venues that my family has used continually. From the NCT sales and meetings which provided early support and friendship, to the musicals and pantos at Christmas, comedy nights for us grown ups, film screenings for all, and a memorable version of The Jungle Book in one of the studios from a travelling theatre group. We've danced at musical nights and cast our votes at election time, given blood and lately had our vaccinations, all in the main hall. We've attended community consultation events - notably the town redevelopment plans and supporting the Princess Royal Hospital. The Redwood Centre was used by my mother and step-father when it was run by Age UK and latterly it has been a very familiar space to us, when our two children attended their much loved scout meetings. The local scout groups (for our children it was 10th Haywards Heath) offer such incredible and positive life experiences for the community's children, all run by committed and wonderful volunteer leaders. We have held fundraising quiz nights at the Redwood to support these fantastic youth groups. No other local venue like the Redwood is available for the MidSussex District Scouting groups that use the centre and the adjacent park and woods. The cricket club in Clair Park has been a feature of our family life, too. All in all, I can honestly state that the Clair Hall and Redwood Centre site has been a valuable and much loved community and cultural hub for my family and I believe we should protect and improve it to benefit the whole community of Haywards Heath and the surrounding villages.