Miss-Delectable

New home delights deaf club in rent-rise row

THE future of a centre for deaf people in Sheffield has been resolved after council leaders stepped in to offer the club a new home.
Emma Dunlop

Two years ago the future of the city's Central Deaf Club, in Surrey Street, looked bleak after Sheffield Council forced the rent up by £12,000.
The council slapped on the huge increase after claiming the club was standing on a premium site.

That was in spite of it operating there for the past 20 years, paying just £18,000-a-year rent.

The council offered to pay the increase for the first year, but the club was struggling to find the rest of the funding to stay open, placing its future in doubt.

But now council leaders have offered it new premises at Shude Hill – a move which has been welcomed by members.
Council leader Jan Wilson offered the new premises following talks with club vice-president Maureen Sanders, who said: "Our new premises are in a great location with excellent transport links. "They are much more accessible than Surrey House, and with exciting new developments on our doorstep we're looking forward to being at the heart of a rejuvenated city centre."
The progress comes after lengthy talks between the council and the club about rising accommodation and maintenance costs at Surrey Street.

A council spokeswoman said last night that Disability Discrimination Act requirements, involving substantial work to meet tough new standards, plus rising rent costs were making it inc-reasingly difficult for the club to continue activities from its present premises. The new premises are now undergoing minor refurbishment, with council support.

The deaf club, run entirely by volunteers, is set to move in almost immediately as the authority's cabinet is expected to approve the details at its meeting next Wednesday.

Coun Wilson said: "The council and Sheffield Central Deaf Club have worked very hard over the past few months and I'm del-ighted we've reached a solution that all parties are happy with. "The deaf club can look forward to many happy years at their new location and I wish them every success."

Club president George Mottram added: "We were pleased to work with the council to find a solution to our problem and we are delighted with our new premises. We are looking forward to inviting everyone involved to our Christmas party at the end of the year."

A petition with over 5,000 signatures condemning the council move was handed to the authority when the rent increase was first proposed, in October 2003.

The club provides a number of essential services as well as social events, including bingo sessions, and trips.

At the time of the increase a council spokesman insisted it was in line with market forces. A recent assessment had set a market rental of £30,000 each year for offices at 2 Surrey Place.

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