Chard support services in jeopardy as council confirms sale plans
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
A much-used community building in Chard is set to be sold by Somerset Council, leaving two local organisations facing an uncertain future.
The Boden Centre in Boden Street, described as a “vital” space for the town, has been home to Chard Community Hub and the WATCH Project for the past three years. During that time, the Hub has provided support, connection, and what it calls a “warm welcome to people from all walks of life”.
Somerset Council, which owns the building, has confirmed its intention to sell the site by April 2026. Both the Community Hub and WATCH are now appealing for help to find a new premises.
Tessa Goodridge-Reynolds, director of events for the Chard Community Hub, said: “We have been working closely with Somerset Council and Chard Town Council to explore community solutions, but so far, we have not found a suitable alternative home.
“We love working alongside The Watch Project and hope to continue sharing a space with them and our other partners, but we need help to make that happen.
“Our old space at 9 Fore Street sadly isn’t safe to use without major work, and while we’ve explored other options, nothing yet meets the needs of our service.”
Serena Wootton, chair of Chard Community Hub, added: “As directors, we are working hard to find a solution to this dilemma and are happy to meet with anyone who has advice or support. My dream is to move somewhere perfectly positioned to serve all of the community.”
Julie Matthews, chief executive of WATCH, said: “Over the course of the last few years, WATCH has had such a good, mutually beneficial relationship with the Chard Community Hub. We have worked very closely with each other supporting many vitally important activities for the wellbeing of Chard residents.
“Fundraising has become extremely difficulty for WATCH, as for any other charity, and this has become an added strain on top of the every-day running of the business.
“We feel we have become a bedrock within the community and to lose our base of operations casts much doubt and uncertainty over our future.
“For us to hold others, we sometimes need to be held ourselves. We strive to support isolated individuals, but the organisation as a whole is in danger of becoming isolated itself. Any help from the Chard community would be incredibly valuable.”
In response, a spokesperson for Somerset Council said: “Somerset Council is currently considering the disposal of the Boden Centre in Boden Street, Chard, with all existing tenants able to remain under the terms of their current leases. The property has been designated an Asset of Community Value (ACV), and as such, any disposal will follow the statutory ACV process.
“There’s no formal requirement to publicly advertise the disposal, but the council is obligated to achieve ‘best value’ for the asset. The ACV Team will inform the nominator, owner, and community when a relevant disposal is intended, initiating the initial moratorium period. To date, no formal disposal process has been triggered.”
The situation leaves the future of both organisations uncertain, with the Hub and WATCH urging the people of Chard to rally behind their search for a long-term home.
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