Further to my latest update regarding the move to new premises, the owner of the Oasis Centre at Springwood has come back to me. 

As you may recall the Oasis Centre (Merton Street HD1 4BE) has step free access, toilets, kitchen, large playing area and teaching room, so coupled with this town centre location, would be an ideal building and location for our club. It is situated at the edge of a large car park which can be busy during the day; however there are some dedicated spaces and other options to explore. Parking is free and readily available in the evening and of course it is just across the road from the bus station. 

We have been offered the opportunity to buy the Oasis Centre at a price we can just about afford from selling Cambridgbe Road, using exisiting funds and paying our tad liabilities. Corporation Tax is a substantial dent in our budget that we had not anticipated at the start of the process. 

However, we would then not have any funds remaining to refurbish the premises to the standards we require. The sub committee of myself Katie and Carrie believe that a fully refurbished Oasis Centre would make a fantastic Bridge Club for years to come, with significantly reduced running and maintenance costs. We also know the best time to improve the facility is before we move in and we could do a deal to give us time to do this without interruption to our normal bridge sessions, after completing the sale/purchase transactions. The refurbishment would involve things like new toilets, central heating, carpeting, etc. but not any structural work as the building appears to be sound. We would obviously conduct a proper survey before buying. This lack of structural work required makes this costs substantailly lower than refurbishing Cambridge Road, which would require structural alterations to access both the front door and the playing area as well as substantial ongoing maintenance costs. 

I am writing to ask members if they would be willing to fund these refurbishments by way of indiviidual donations. I am proposing that for an individual donation of £1000+ members would join the symbolic Huddersfield Bridge 2024 Club with their name commemorated on a plaque in the new club in recognition of their donation. This donation would be a gift from the member to the club with no different levels of membership created or other benefits bestowed. 

If there is sufficient interest from the members, we will continue to pursue this opportunity of purchasing and refurbishing the Oasis Centre which is valued at the same price as our houses on Cambridge Road but gives us most of the attributes we wanted when we commenced our search for new premisies. It also gives us a substantial advantage of continuing to own an asset, rather than leasing. 

If there is insufficient enthusiasm for member donations, we will continue to look for other options. Please let me know by email ([email protected]) if you would be willing to donate £1000 to Huddersfield Bridge Club to fund these refurbishments. 

Michael 02/05/24