Improvement Plans Approved

At their committee meeting on Tuesday evening (Oct 3rd) the Community Centre Committee agreed to start development work on Phase One of their Improvement Plan. This consists of work to the Main Hall that is intended to improve conditions for all users. The work to be undertaken is:

New suspended ceiling.

New lighting to create a wide variety of effects for different events.

Power operated black-out blinds on the mansard windows to remove the sound-deadening curtains.

Improvements to the high-level walkway to improve safety.

Alan Wilkinson, Chairman of the Committee said "We have ambitious plans for the Centre but need to split the work into manageable sections. This first phase is intended to bring benefits to the largest number of Centre users. The work should cost about £80,000 so we must now produce a properly costed and detailed plan to put before potential grant – awarding bodies"

The continued regular use of the building and the support of the community for events has enabled the Community Centre to amass a fund of about £35,000 to put towards the building works. The new storage building, due to start in December, has already been budgeted for and the Committee always keep a significant fund in reserve to meet contingencies. Alan says, "It is essential that the support we get from the community is translated into necessary and obvious improvements to the Centre so that everyone can benefit from them. Everything we make from the support we get will be ploughed back into the building"

Improvements to be looked at in Phase Two focus on updating the stage including lighting, access from the Hall and technical ancillaries. The Committee is also very keen to improve the heating and ventilation system, but appreciates that this is the responsibility of the landlord, CW&C. While appreciating that budgets are tight, they agreed to ask CW&C to consider replacing the existing system with more modern and efficient one that would be cost-effective in the long term.

Anyone who would like to get involved in helping to deliver these improvements is welcome to contact Alan (01829 740868) or any committee member