Stotfold Town Council would like to thank the 269 residents who took part in the recent consultation on the future of the Simpson Centre. The Council is grateful for residents taking the time to respond both online and via the Stotfold News questionnaire.
The consultation revealed a clear split in community opinion, with results showing a 50/50 divide between those wishing to keep the Simpson Centre and those supporting its sale to invest in other areas of the town. At its meeting on Wednesday 3 September 2025, Stotfold Town Council carefully considered the future of the site.
After full debate, members resolved to progress with the option to sell the site. While the Council recognises that some residents supported the idea of retaining the Simpson Centre for community use, it was agreed that this was not a reasonable or sustainable approach. The building, now over 50 years old, would require substantial investment to bring it up to modern building standards. In addition, the running costs associated with a refurbished facility would create an ongoing and significant burden on council tax. There is also no certainty that refurbishment would be fully feasible.
The decision to sell the site ensures that the Council can secure a capital receipt and reinvest directly into the refurbishment of the Memorial Hall and other town assets. This approach will deliver a sustainable, accessible, and modern community facility for long-term benefit to the town.
Cllr Danny Matthews, Chair of the Buildings Management Committee, said:
“This has been a difficult decision, and we want to thank residents for the time they took to respond to the consultation. In the end, members felt we could not justify placing an additional financial burden on council taxpayers for a building of uncertain viability. By choosing to sell the site, we will be able to fund the refurbishment of other Town Council assets like the Memorial Hall which would create a facility that can serve the whole community for decades to come.”
A summary of the results can be found here.
The resident's comments which accompanied the responses to the questionnaire are also available to view on the following links:
Suggestions that Stotfold Town Council Cannot Implement
We thank everyone for their suggestions , there are some however that are not possible for Stotfold Town Council to implement. We wish to address these now, with an explanation.
Freezing the Precept
Due to legislation which governs the actions of the Town Council, any funds received from the sale of a capital asset, such as the Simpson Centre, can only be used on capital projects. In short, this means that the funds will have to be used on projects that are not already covered by the precept. To reduce the precept, this would mean using the funds to offset the current budget, which is not permitted.
Traffic Calming/Enforcement
Traffic calming measures, such as speed cameras, speed bumps and other such measures are the responsibility of Central Bedfordshire Council and therefore the Town Council cannot invest in these. Speeding enforcement is carried out by the police who have the appropriate powers to do so.
Fixing Potholes and Pavements
These areas are maintained by Central Bedfordshire Council. We would encourage all residents to report issues with the pavements and roadways to Central Bedfordshire Council via the “Fix My Street” service.
On new build estates, if the roads are to be become public roads then these will be typically be maintained by the developer until such a time as they are adopted by Central Bedfordshire Council
Investment in Public Transport - Such as Bus Routes
Bus routes are commissioned and run by Central Bedfordshire Council, the Town Council do not have the ability to invest funds into this infrastructure.
Parking on Verges and Enforcement
Parking enforcement is a service undertaken by Central Bedfordshire Council who have the appropriate enforcement powers. Parking on verges is not unlawful in Central Bedfordshire unless specific restrictions are in place.
More GPs and Police Officers
Investment in more GPs and Police Officers is outside of the remit of Stotfold Town Council and is funded at national government level. Any suggestions in respect of policing we would encourage residents to speak with the Police of Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, John Tizard who can be contacted on 01234 842064 or email: [email protected]
End the Garden Waste Scheme
This scheme is run by Central Bedfordshire Council operating in their role of waste management for the county. Funds from any potential sale of the Simpson Centre could not be used to offset the charge they make to residents to collect garden waste.
What's Next?
The preferred option when it came to selling the site was for over 55 housing. The Town Council will now investigate how best to progress with this decision.
The Town Council will update the residents as the project progresses.
If anyone has any questions, then please feel free to visit the office, call on 01462 730 064 or email [email protected]