Leicesters Polish Community
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 • Relocation of the Polish Community Centre Leicester


Throughout 1997 the subject of relocation is discussed at parish meetings and the Parish committee in April 1997 canvassed parishioners opinions. St Margaret’s site was identified and approaches to the parish priest and parish committee made.

  1. 8th March 1998  - The PBF Leicester AGM votes to set up a “Relocation Committee”.
  2. 1st April 1998 - The Parish Committee asks Mr. Stan Pawluczyk to lead the Relocation Committee and co-opt members as appropriate.
  3. 17th September 1998 – Informed by Fr.Lally that the Bishop of Nottingham had given his permission to discuss the St Margarets site.
  1. 25th September 1998 - the Parish Committee gives The Relocation Committee their terms of reference.

  2. 11th October 1998 – During the Parish Golden Jubilee celebrations the subject of Relocation is discussed, J. Eks Arcybp Szczepan Wesoly,Ks Pral J Tworek, Ks S Jakubiec Ks L Czyz, Dr. I Pawluczyk along with other members of the parish committee present.

  3. 14th October 1998 - Ks. Arcybiskup Wesoly sends Dr. I Pawluczyk a letter of support.

  4. 28th April 1999 – Relocation Committee report to parish council, relocation site identified as St Margarets Wakerly rd , city planners have no objections to community centre development on the site of St Margarets.
  1. 13th October 1999 - Chair relocation committee meets Fr Lally at the Sacred Heart Presbytery, terms re St Margaret’s site are discussed and an offer is made.
  2. 16th December 1999 – received letter (dated 9th December) from the Diocese of Nottingham confirming that the Trustees agree in principle to sell St Margaret’s site to the Polish Catholic Community in Leicester.
  1.  February/March 2000 –Independent valuation reports by chartered surveyors, Achurch Philips Blenkin, Spencers Druce and Snow & Astill.

  • 5th March 2000 – parish EGM discusses the community relocation to St Margaret’s and progress to date.

  • 12th/19th/26th March 2000 – over a three-week period parish members vote on the question of relocation. A total of 274-parish members vote, 85% vote in favour of relocating to the St Margarets site.
    1. 17th April 2000 – Relocation committee organises a meeting of all Polish organisations in Leicester in order to ascertain their requirements in the new community centre and jointly apply for a lottery grant. All groups submitted their requests formally in writing by the end of May 2000.
    1.  April/May 2000 –Relocation Committee chose: Archaid architects, Snow & Astill selling agents, C Norman Astill & Son (RC solicitors have represented the diocese of Nottingham) solicitors. Sale of our centre is to be by way of formal tender.
    1.  25th May 2000 - formal offer to purchase St Margaret’s site sent to the Diocese of Nottingham.
    2.  29th May 2000 –Fr Jakubiec and Dr I Pawluczyk formally notify the PBF rector in London of the intention to relocate our community centre.
    1. 1st June 2000 - Mgr Canon Moore Diocese of Nottingham acknowledges our offer to purchase St Margaret’s.
    2. 14th June 2000 - Mr. Palmi writes to Fr Jakubiec explaining the procedures for selling our centre.
    1. 15th June 2000 – The Relocation Committee present to the parish council a Business Plan titled “The Polish Community Centre (Leicester) Project.
    2. 26th June 2000 – Relocation Committee write to Mr. Palmi notifying the PBF of our Lottery Grant application.
    1. 5th July 2000 – Mr Palmi writes to the relocation committee with advice on procedures and support for the application.
    2. 11th August 2000 – C Norman Astill & Sons submit agreed conditions of tender document to selling agents.

  • 20th August 2000 – Lottery Grant application submitted for £275,000. grant consideration date first week of December 2000.

  • 4th September - Snow & Astill  instructed to commence tender process, local and national advertisements, closing date 8th December 2000 with notification to successful tenderer on or before 20 December 2000.
    1. September/October 2000 –Archaid architects agreement terminated, new architects Pick Everard chosen to progress project.
    2. 30th September 2000 – draft plans of the new community centre displayed in Polish club.
    1. 5th October 2000 – relocation committee informs Mr Palmi that lottery application has been submitted, encloses a copy of application and gives brief details of the project.
    2. 30th October 2000 – a very positive letter from Mr Palmi to the relocation committee for our “prizeworthy professional manner”
    3. 30th October 2000 – Plans of the new centre submitted to the parish committee for discussion.
    4. 31st October 2000 - National Charities Board send letter requiring the signature of the PBF Chairman. 1st week of Nov a number of discussions between Mr S Pawluczyk, Mr Palmi and Helen Hayward , the dead line is the 15th November.
    1. November/December 2000 – Positive discussions with planners outline planning approved.
    1. 9th November 2000 - Relocation Committee meet with representatives of all Polish community organisations in Leicester to discuss plans of the new centre and feedback.
    2. 13th November 2000 – Burley & Geach write (fax) Mr Palmi, suggesting “PBF need something in place to protect them”
    3. 14th November 2000 - Letter from Mr Palmi requesting that PBF Leicester are legally responsible for the expenditure of lottery monies –requesting letter of indemnity. The Parish committee send indemnity letter to PBF London.
    1. 17th November 2000 – Mr. Palmis letter to National Lottery Charities Board (confirming the PBF supports our lottery application) arrives one day to late for the December grant consideration.
    1. 8th December2000 – No formal tender offers received.
    2. 9th December 2000 – A Mohamed Daud representing the AK foundation offers £300,000. Discussions with regular correspondence last approx 10 months.
    1. January 2001 - Pick Everads assist with project costing. Dimensional and structural survey also ground investigation carried out at new site.
    1. 1st March -  National Lottery grant £275,000 approved.
    1. 30th April 2001 -  Full planning application submitted.
    2. 5th July 2001 - Planning permission granted.
    1. 21st September 2001 – Leicester parish committee vote to sell our centre to Mr Daud representing the AK Foundation for £410,000 full payment on completion and an 18 month  allowance to vacate the current premises.
    1. 25th September 2001 – Letter from Relocation Committee to Monsignor Tworek informing of progress and frustrations to date and enclosing; budgets, plans of new centre, correspondence between architects, valuations, planning permission, correspondence with the Diocese of Nottingham and the National Lottery.
    1. 4th October 2001 – London PBF (Mon Tworek) informs  Leicester that Burley& Geach will now be responsible for the sale of our centre.
    1. 5th October 2001 – After 10 months of negotiations all terms and conditions of sale agreed between C Norman Astill solicitors representing Leicester PBF  and Mr. Dauds AK Foundation.
    1. 7th April 2002 Relocation Committee organise parish information meeting. Over 160 parishioners attend.
    2. April/ May 2002 – Architects short list construction companies, and sends the project out to tender.
    1. A further 8 months of correspondence and much duplication of work with Macphersons Burley & Geach PBF London solicitors.
    1. 20th May 2002 – Macphersons Burley & Geach complete the sale of our centre and the purchase of  the St Margaret’s site.
    1. July / August 2002 - discussions with architects – Tolent construction chosen to build the new centre.
    2. 30th August 2002 – Leicester City Highways & Tolent construction undertake preliminary site works in order to conform to National Lottery requirements.
    1. 29th September 2002 – Parish information meeting at St Margarets over 200 of our parishioners present. Project to be undertaken in 2 phases (due to budgets) unanimously approved.
    1. 20th November 2002 – Letter of intent sent to Tolent Construction.
    2. 26th November 2002 –pre contract discussions with Tolent Construction.

    The  building works ( 30 weeks duration) to be carried out will be to our agreed budget and verified by our architects : the contract will set out the scheme, set out scope of works, set out payment terms, supervision of works and conform to the strict regulations of the National Lottery.
    The form of contract will be JCT Standard Form of Building Contract with Contractors Design 1998 Edition incorporating Amendments 1:1999,2000 and 3:2001.
    The above is an overview of the key points.

    Stan Pawluczyk.
    Chairman of the Relocation Committee.

     

    Copyright @2002