Plans for children’s holiday centre in Catsfield take a step forward

At a special meeting of Catsfield Parish Council last Thursday, May 17, councillors backed the plans by not-for-profit charity CCHF All About Kids for a children’s holiday centre in the village.

The plans for the holiday centre, which will offer respite breaks for the most disadvantaged children in the south, will now go to Rother District Council’s planning committee, which will take into account comments from the parish councillors and villagers in making a final decision.

If approved, the proposals will restore and bring back into use the nine-bedroom property Twisly and enable CCHF to offer activity breaks for primary school children aged 7-11 years from deprived areas, including parts of Sussex.

CCHF breaks will be held during school holidays and some weekends, and allow children to take part in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, supervised by fully trained staff.

Lydia Davis, chief executive of CCHF, said: “We would like to thank the parish council for holding the meeting and the community for taking part in the active discussions.

“The decision by the parish council is hugely welcome and it demonstrates that not only do the plans have local support but that the wider benefits that they would bring are recognised.

“We have held a series of engagement events with the local community and made changes to the plans as a result of their comments.

“We want to maintain our dialogue with the local community and want to be at the heart of this vibrant community.

“We look forward to the consideration of the plans by Rother District Council.”