Sidmouth Community Centre hopes

TALKS to form a planning and management committee for the new community centre in Sidmouth have been billed as "highly positive".

A meeting was held last week between five Stowford Rise residents, county councillor Stuart Hughes, town councillor Jeff Turner and district councillor Graham Troman about a steering group for the new centre.

Mr Hughes said: "This was a highly positive meeting at which the local members of the community who attended were very enthusiastic about the proposals and the partnerships involved, and have agreed to form a management committee."

A history of the development of the Stowford Rise community centre was given at the meeting and details of the funding package that is now in place for the centre were also provided.

Mr Hughes added: "Members of the group considered the design plans of the building and made useful comments that will enable the building to be made more flexible in terms of how the community can use it and how it can become sustainable into the future. Other issues such as parking and sound proofing were also discussed.

"We are now one step nearer to reaching our goal of providing a community centre for Stowford Rise."

At the meeting it was agreed to appoint a community development lead worker who would support the development of this community group.

The community group will manage and run the wide range of clubs and activities based at the centre, alongside a range of statutory agencies.

The building, which is expected to open in early 2011, will include a children's centre, office space, a hall and kitchen facilities, and will social, cultural and learning activities to the whole community.

A further meeting will be held in late August which is open to Stowford Rise residents.

For more information ring Mr Hughes on (01395) 578414.