Swings and Smiles planning Thatcham move

Play centre for children with special needs hoping to move to Thatcham

A CHARITY that provides a vital space for children with special needs to play with their families is looking to make Thatcham its new permanent home.

However, developer-controlled covenants may stand in its way.

Swings and Smiles has been hunting for a permanent home since it was founded in 2007.

After a seven-year search the charity moved into temporary premises at the Phoenix Resource Centre in Newtown Road, Newbury.

The centre provides an environment where children and young people with special needs and their carers or families can play together without the pressures often experienced in wider community settings.

But the charity’s founder, Sian Cook, said that the hunt for a home had continued.

The charity is now looking to use the Lower Way pavilion as its new base with a long-term lease or purchase from Thatcham Town Council.

The move will be subject to planning consent and covenants.

“It offers pretty much everything we want; outside space and a building to fit our requirements in an absolutely fantastic location with accessibility for our families,” Mrs Cook said.

She added that being at the Phoenix Centre had proved a valuable learning experience for the charity, allowing it to “not make any expensive mistakes in a permanent home”.

The cost of the charity’s impending new home is around £750,000 and Mrs Cook said it was hopeful to move once the lease expired at the Phoenix Centre in 2017.

More than 300 children from across West Berkshire and neighbouring counties use Swings and Smiles services, which include an optimusic suite, a sensory room, arts and crafts zone and a soft play area.

Mrs Cook said: “To be in a position were we open every day and during school holidays is critical.

“The demand is most definitely there.”

Thatcham Town Council discussed the charity’s expression of interest at a meeting on Monday.

The pavilion, workshop and playing fields are owned by Thatcham Town Council, but are subject to covenants held by developer Persimmon Homes.

Rob Denton-Powell (Thatcham South and Crookham) said that the town council would need to try and amend the covenants with Persimmon before further steps could be taken.

Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, Thatcham North) asked whether the council could get a quote for going to a land tribunal to remove the covenants.

Agreeing, Jason Collis (Co, Thatcham North) said: “We can go to a tribunal if we need to.”

Dominic Boeck (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham) said: “I think we all believe this is a very valuable proposal and that we would welcome Swings and Smiles into Thatcham, and any other charity, but we need to send a message that we are serious about this.”