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After ten and a half years, The Motorcycle Maintenance Workshop has been closed.
For the last five years The Workshop had operated as a section of The Laindon Community Association, using the vehicle workshop originally built by Basildon Council as part of the Laindon Community Centre.
Other than The Motorcycle Workshop, which only ran on Saturdays, the vehicle workshop facility had remained unused for six days a week. Meanwhile the other facilities at The Centre are oversubscribed and groups are being turned away. The Association does not have the funds to build a new extension and so they chose to close the vehicle workshop and convert it into a general purpose hall.
(The workshop area has since (mid-2000) been converted into a canteen for a nearby training company. The Community Association seems to be much more interested in making a profit than serving the community - we've given up with them)
We were informed of this decision on February 27th 1999 and given one month's notice to quit.
On Saturday March 6th we took the camera to capture the penultimate session. See the pictures . The last session was on the 13th. We had other commitments on the 20th so the move-out was on the 27th, followed by a "wake" at our home, to say farewell to The Workshop and drink what's left of the "Toolfund" money.
As founders and organisers of The Workshop, Pauline and Dave would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people and organisations for their help and support over the years...
- Basildon Council and their staff of The Laindon Community Centre.
- The staff and committee of Laindon Community Association.
- Shell Oils who sponsored The Workshop for its first four years.
- Shell UK Ltd for a grant which helped purchase some of the original equipment.
- Mark Collings and his staff at On Two Wheels (
M&P Accessories
) for providing discount trade facilities for us to order components on behalf
of our users.
- Karcher (UK) Ltd for the donation of a pressure washer.
- Ford of Britain Trust for a grant to improve the facilities.
- all the users of The Workshop, without whom it would have been a waste of
time. There are too many to name them all but most have become our friends and
some grew to become major contributors in the running of The Workshop.
Credit is certainly due to the following...
Arthur Brown, for his good humour and annual coach driving to the NEC.
Chris Adams
, our original "workshop assistant", until his job included a Saturday shift.
Chris "CJ" Still, Dave Joiner,
Alan
and Tony Bailey, general good guys when anyone else needs a hand.
Does this mean the end for The Workshop?
There would have been only two possible ways to save it: if other groups or individuals were to make regular use of the vehicle workshop during the week, it would have been viable to keep the facility open; or if alternative premises could be found The Workshop could move to a new venue.
The Community Association never promoted the vehicle workshop facility as they do not have anyone to supervise. However, it would have been ideal for groups such as car maintenance classes, custom and classic car clubs, etc.
Realistically we are unlikely to find equivalent facilities within the area. Alternative premises would need to have power, light, heating, security and space to store tools (plus trailer and ramp), vehicle lift(s), compressor, hot and cold water, toilets and insurance; this was not going to be easy !!
Curiously Basildon Council, who remain the landlords of the Community Centre, requested that the large equipment (e.g. four-post lift) be returned to them when the workshop is cleared. This was to be re-used at another venue - a "young offenders" rehabilitation initiative. We have since been in contact with them but it would not be practical to attempt to share premises.
March 4th 1999
Press release sent to MCN, Basildon Evening Echo, BIKE, RIDE, Telegragh and
Independent.
The Evening Echo interviewed Pauline for details of the story.
March 5th
MCN acknowledge receipt of press release and are considering how best to
follow-up.
March 6th
Evening Echo sent photographer to The Workshop.
March 9th
Received
message
from Fintan Smith.
(Nearly) full page article in Evening Echo.
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March 22nd
Following the article in the Evening Echo, we were contacted by Essex County
Council Youth Services, who are re-opening their site at Roundacre, Basildon.
Although they have no facility available for us at present, they are keen to
see if they can accommodate us.
This was the best news we'd heard so far.
Nothing has since been heard from them, over a year later
August
The workshop area of the Laindon Community Centre has still not been modified, only the heavy equipment has been removed by Basildon Council. It's clear that the notice we were given by the Association was premature as they either don't have the funding or the planning permission for the changes. This is especially galling as we could have continued for at least another six months.
September
We have decided not to resurrect The Workshop in anything like it's previous
guise. Many of the regulars have become our friends over the years and they
are now welcome to work on their bikes at our home, by arrangement.
M&P Accessories still provide us with trade facilities for ordering bits for the guys (and girls).
The last of the "tool fund" was spent on buying a compressor so we can use the air tools we still have.
We will also continue to provide advice and comment on the Motorcycle Newgroups including UK , International and Technical .
Further details on The Workshop
For anyone curious about The Workshop the old Frequently Asked Questions are still available.
Any constructive suggestions or comment welcome, either in our Feedback page or via email .