A RAPE victims support charity is facing eviction because Guildford Borough Council is redeveloping its town centre home to make way for a new supermarket.
The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC), currently based at the North Place day centre in Haydon Place, is appealing to anyone who knows of spare space in Guildford town centre that the charity could rent, or possibly buy.
It needs to move because Guildford Borough Council is planning to demolish buildings at the Bellerby Theatre site, including the North Place day centre and Victoria Court accommodation block, and replace them with a supermarket and other shops.
Sonja Freebody, from RASASC, said: “Guildford Borough Council is being helpful.
“They are trying to find us somewhere to move to, they won’t be kicking us out on the street until we’ve found somewhere, but we’re eager to know if anybody else has a building we can share, or somebody knows of an area where we can go to.
“We’ve moved three times in the last nine years, it’s extremely time-consuming and costly.”
RASASC needs a place measuring between 900 and 1,000sq-ft and has a budget of ￡14,000 to spend on rent for a year.
Ideally, the new premises would have three or four rooms, two open-plan areas for counselling and at least one for office space.
Ms Freebody?added: “It is important we find the right place, 10 minutes’ walk from the station, as a majority of people come by public transport.
“We need it to be in the right space to feel safe, especially for people who were assaulted in the evening. For them, coming to us in the dark, it is important that they feel safe.”
Because of the redevelopment, services provided for elderly people at North Place day centre will be moved to the Park Barn centre. As a result, IT drop-in sessions provided by Age Concern will no longer be possible.
Michael Roberts, Age Concern’s co-ordinator of IT in Guildford, said the charity was trying to look for another place around the town centre to hold the drop-in sessions.
He said: “We have gone to churches and non-church places to see if they can accommodate us.
“The council talk about their central place being at Park Barn, but most of the people at the day centre come by bus from the bus station, and it would mean a matter of catching another bus from there to the new place. We are all getting a bit anxious but it’s a sign of the times.”
A spokesman for the council said that draft plans for the former Bellerby Theatre site were at an early stage.
He said: “The council is actively exploring the potential to bring this important site forward for development to make a real contribution to the economic wellbeing of the area.
“Although North Place will close as a day centre in December, use of the building by our existing partnership will not stop immediately.
"We provide accommodation for RASASC and some Age Concern services at the North Place day centre and are working with them to find more suitable accommodation.”
People in Guildford are being asked to have their say on plans for the former Bellerby Theatre site. The draft plan suggests future uses such as a new supermarket and a mix of market and affordable housing and community facilities.
Councillor Tony Rooth, leader of Guildford Borough Council, added: “We are keen to hear the view of all residents about plans for regeneration of this important town centre site.”
Call Sonja Freebody at RASASC on 01483 452900 if you can help with the charity’s search for new premises.
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