One Year On
It hardly seems a year ago that the Chelmsford Muslim Society formally became the owners of Hamptons Sports and Leisure.
Of course, the Covid pandemic has enforced some serious changes to the way we work, play and live.
Promises and lies
Back in January 2020 Ayman Syed, the General Secretary of CMS (and rumoured to be the Lib Dem candidate in the upcoming by election) promised residents, club members and worshippers.
No large scale plans to change the building
Provision of food and “entertainment”.
Squash, tennis, health and fitness activities
Rooms for hire
An online booking system
A new website
Cafe
Youth club
Prayer facilities for over 500 worshippers
Social events for sisters, families and youths
Funeral and bereavement services
Interfaith meetings, school and community visits
Use of two rooms for daily prayers
What we actually got
This won’t be a long list !
All three bars ripped out as promised.
Long term tenants Roamers Caterers and the Buddhist meditation classes had their tenancies terminated.
Plans to convert the members bar to ritual ablution facilities.
Islamic Education classes.
Squash, tennis and a few “fitness activities”
Rooms for hire (except the Main Hall on Friday) and during Ramadan and Eid
An online booking system for squash and tennis.
Use of the Main Hall for Friday prayers
The much publicised Food Bank.
A Failing business ?
Well it is now ! Without the primary revenue stream (the bars), and social events, it’s hard to see how the club can survive once the pandemic restrictions are lifted. Our survey indicates that the club has lost a high proportion of it’s social members, and many of it’s Racquets members. We really fear for the staff once the Furlough scheme ends.
Even members of the Muslim community are starting to question the wisdom of this venture, and are concerned about rumours of funds being transferred from the CMS charity account to shore up the business.
And what do the Chelmsford Muslim Society Have To say ?
Well, nothing. While they are happy to go running to the council behind closed doors, they have made no attempt to engage with local residents. Perhaps they’ve been busy. So busy in fact, that they still haven’t fully edited the info on the HSL Facebook page or the HSL website, you have to question why they don’t mention the 2020 sale or who the owners are !
Our Local councillors and the council
Quite frankly the local ward councillors are unwilling to listen and respond to your genuine concerns. They will do as they’re are told by the council, and just trot out the corporate responses provided by Legal Services and Connected Chelmsford. Anyone with a differing opinion is labelled as right wing or racist.
The council have bent over backwards to facilitate the Chelmsford Muslim Society, in line with their need “to help ensure the council’s pledges on diversity and equality are being met”.
Clearly the councillors and council are quite happy to chuck the sports and leisure club under the wheels of the diversity bus.
Gotta tick those diversity and equality boxes to attract property developers !