A new community hub and changing facility for hockey players in Surfleet has been given the thumbs up by planning officers.
Local charity Tonic Health, which runs projects geared around dementia and mental health, is looking to convert a disused art studio off Station Road into a kitchen and cafe area.
It will also provide much needed changing facilities for users of Glen Park, particularly Spalding Hockey Club.
Planning officers had recommended the change of use and slight expansion of the building be granted permission by South Holland District Council’s planning committee ahead of its meeting on Wednesday, February 7.
The name of the project is Tonic 44.
A statement on Tonic Health’s website states: “Tonic 44 aims to become a suitable, accessible and affordable focal meeting place for the local residents, be a secondary location for Tonic Health’s charitable activities to run from, and service the users of Glen Park’s facilities.
“The Hub will be open seven days a week, and will offer refreshments and light bites.
“We will develop a living ‘business plan’ document in conjunction with local residents and regular users of the cafe that will guide our development of the facility over the next few years, making it truly a community asset.”
The report by district council planning officer Richard Fidler states that Tonic Health is looking to sell bottled alcohol on the premises and will look at entertainment licensing.
It continues that the hub will be open until 6pm on Saturdays to accommodate Spalding Hockey Club which will be long term beneficiaries of the changing facilities.
A condition was due to be set that all events across the site should be finished by 9.30pm with all customers vacated by 10pm.
Three objections were made including concerns over parking, alcohol consumption on site and the effect on other community facilities in Surfleet.
But in his conclusion Mr Fidler states: “The proposal would be a relatively small scale community activity, which it is considered may be reasonably controlled by the imposition of conditions to protect the amenities of nearby residents.”
Tonic Health is well on course to raising the minimum of £10,000 it needs for the centre and are continuing to hold a host of fundraising events.
