Local law firm helps save Prettygate's heritage

One of Colchester’s leading law firms has helped a group of local residents save a historic community centre at the heart of Prettygate.

Lawyers from Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP gave free legal advice to help local residents buy the 140-year-old Straight Road Community Centre, after a lengthy campaign to prevent the site from being sold for redevelopment. 

The former schoolhouse, which dates back to 1862, will now be managed by residents; it will be used by a pre-school group as well as for adult learning classes and other community-based activities and events.

Martin Pratley, property expert at Fisher Jones Greenwood said: “We were contacted through theBusiness in the Community scheme, the ProHelp organisation, and were very keen to get involved. We not only provided advice to enable the group to become a registered charitable company, but we also advised on conveyancing and legal agreements.

“Because there were so many different parties involved the transaction has been extremely complex - so it’s really good that everything has now come to fruition.”

Sue Hawes, Chairperson of the Straight Road Community Centre Ltd which ran the campaign to save the former school and which will now manage the building on behalf of local residents, said: “It has taken five years to reach this stage and we have been very grateful for the fantastic support of Fisher Jones Greenwood. As a community group we had very limited funds and knowledge and so the help we have received from professional advisers has been crucial in achieving this outcome.”

Russ Cottee Essex Area Manager for Business in the Community, praised the work which had been undertaken by Fisher Jones Greenwood and said it demonstrated the importance of firms working for the good of their local communities. “Fisher Jones Greenwood has dedicated the same care and attention to this long-running project as it would to a fee-paying client and have literally overseen this project from the cradle to the grave. It’s a great example of how pro-bono work can have a significant impact.”

The Straight Road Community Centre received grants from Essex County Council, Colchester Borough Council and the Learning and Skills Council’s Neighbourhood Learning Fund to enable it to purchase the building.

The centre is available for hire. For further details please contact Sue Hawes on 01206 501452.

 

Pictured FJG Solicitor Martin Pratley (second left) with members of the Straight Road Community Centre Ltd.