Work nears completion

Summer is traditionally a quiet time in the Community Centre as many of the regular activities take a well-earned break. This summer however will be quite hectic as the work to finish the redevelopment of the back room nears completion. Thanks to a large grant from WREN and two smaller grants from the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Williams Family Foundation, the transformation of the back room from a storage area to a lounge/bar is nearly complete.

Regular users will have become familiar with the temporary loss of 1.5 metres of the main Hall and the rather eccentric storage arrangements for tables and chairs that have characterised the weeks of work. The Committee would like to say a big 'thank you' to the users who have accommodated these obstructions with such equanimity.

Work has proceeded quickly and relatively smoothly. An unknown drain cover caused a brief delay while a backlog of unpleasant debris was cleared. The strength of the existing steel beams to support the folding doors has been the subject of much discussion, but a solution has been found. As with all building projects there have been a number of dreaded 'variations' but all issues have been resolved. The Committee is delighted with the standard of work done by the contractors, Novus Property Solutions.

The Committee is now planning the best way to celebrate the end of the works. There will be a formal event where all those involved, plus all Community Centre users, will raise a glass to dedicate the new room, and a ribbon might well be cut. But there will also be an open afternoon to invite the whole community to come and see what has been achieved. Though the work could not have been done without the contribution from the major donors, a significant part of the cost has come from the contribution made by all those who come and enjoy the events and activities on a regular basis.

The Community Centre is at the heart of the community and it is the support of that community that makes it such a great place to be.