Reepham Town Council is considering the viability of the Stimpson’s Piece Pavilion, which is on the recreation ground.
In 1945 the Stimpson Family offered Reepham land to provide a sports field for Reepham as part of Thanksgiving for Victory at the end of WWII. In 1987 the Stimpson Family gifted the freehold of the land to Reepham to be held in trust. There were restrictions on the land which included that it:
* must be used and enjoyed as a recreation ground and park in the interests of the social welfare and with the object of improving the conditions of life of the inhabitants of the Parish of Reepham and the neighbourhood thereof.
* No house or building or other erection shall be erected or put upon Stimpson’s Piece other than pavilions, refreshment rooms, community centre, or similar.
A further seven acres was also purchased by the Reepham Town Council. In the 1995 the pavilion was constructed, which has been used by sports groups within Reepham ever since, eg Football Club, Ladies Hockey Club, and Cricket Club.
Currently the hall is the base for Reepham Football which has grown to not only have three adult’s teams but has three youth teams. There are regular exercise classes, eg zumba, tia-chi, bowls during the Winter. It is currently the home of the Nursery. The Grounds are also the training place of Reepham Runners, who have doubled their membership this year and are looking for the hall to be their future HQ.
The Town Council has recently sent out a questionnaire that gave 6 options following an options appraisal in the autumn 2013 by Ingham Pinnock Associates. This was due to the fact the combination of limited revenue generated and increasing capital and revenue costs.
Recreational Reepham is of the opinion that, Stimpson’s Piece is a major asset to Reepham. In an age where more and more people are undertaking exercise and with the current Clubs based there this should be encouraged. With the planned increase in housing in Reepham that it is important that there is suitable facilities for residents.
The current hall does not necessarily meet the needs of the future of Reepham and with refurbishment could be more flexible and generate more income, as well as meet the needs of the local community,
However, unless enough support is shown for Stimpson’s Piece we are in danger of losing this important asset. Although Reepham has other halls and centres, no other has the outlook and advantages, eg car parking, outside space, that Stimpson’s Piece offers the Community. Let us ensure that the legacy that the Stimpson Family left Reepham continues to grow and does not fall at the first sign of problems.
