Brief reprieve for Surrey Community Music Society
7:00am Thursday 24th January 2013 in News By Laura Proto
Still singing: But the charity needs a new home
A Cobham charity was in panic mode after being given three weeks to find a new home.
Surrey Community Music Society has used the residents’ communal lounge at Churchfield House, Lushington Drive, for seven-and-a-half-years, but was asked to leave by Elmbridge Housing Trust.
The charity was initially given three weeks’ notice but, with the help of Councillor James Vickers, has now been given until the end of February.
Cliff van Tonder, CEO of Surrey Music, said: “We are shocked and of course very disappointed to receive this news.
“Elmbridge Ladies Choir and Elmbridge Big Band, a total of about 130 members, enjoy their weekly rehearsals at Churchfield House and it will be difficult for us to find a suitable alternative venue at such short notice.”
A spokeswoman for Elmbridge Housing Trust said: “We have ended the arrangements for evening events at Churchfield House, and two organisations are affected, the Surrey Music Society and a folk dancing club.
“Both events are lively and noisy and we have started to have complaints from some of the elderly residents about the noise going on into the evening. Our main concern though is about lack of security for the residents with so many people attending the events.”
Elmbridge Housing Trust said, due to member numbers, they have been worried about blocked fire doors and issues with moving furniture.
The charity, which raises money through performances to fund its music grants scheme Get Music Going!, needs to find a new venue quickly and is looking for somewhere with a large capacity in Cobham or the surrounding area.
Mr Van Tonder said: “With concerts planned for the year ahead we need as little disruption to our rehearsal schedule as possible. If anyone can help with offering premises I would be so grateful if they could contact me urgently.”
Elmbridge Housing Trust apologised for ending the arrangement and accepted the length of the notice they initially gave was too short.
For more information about Surrey Music, visit surreymusic.org.uk or call Mr Van Tonder on 07880 796623.
