RESIDENTS will decide whether a village gets a new community centre. Melbourn Parish Council has submitted a planning application to South Cambridgeshire District Council for the centre, which would be built on the car park in the High Street. It would i

RESIDENTS will decide whether a village gets a new community centre.

Melbourn Parish Council has submitted a planning application to South Cambridgeshire District Council for the centre, which would be built on the car park in the High Street.

It would include a library, meeting room, parish office and a large community hall.

Parish councillor Bob Trimble said: "The project will be paid for by taxpayers, because we were unable to get Lottery funding.

"If we get planning permission, we will hold a full public meeting once the design is finalised.

"Here residents would be able to decide whether or not we go ahead.

Cllr Trimble said that he believes the centre is "important for the develop-ment of Melbourn".

He said: "We carried out a survey of residents and had a high response with the vast majority in favour of building a new centre."

However, one resident told The Crow: "The plans include a licensed com-munity hall which could accommodate about 100 people, and could be open until late at night or even into the early hours.

"This is in the middle of a residential area.

"There is also much speculation as to how this development will be funded.

"There was a resolution passed last year to apply for a commercial loan of £750,000 by the parish council, which has yet to produce a business case detailing the financial viability of this project," she added.

Cllr Trimble said: "If we go ahead with the centre, we will be applying for a loan, but this will have to be authorised by the Depart-ment of Communities and Local Government."

Residents opposed to the plan have arranged a meeting on Sunday at the Vicarage Close meeting rooms at 2-5pm.