Villagers have say on green’ centre
MELBOURN may be in line to get a £500,000 environmentally-friendly community centre. If the project should go ahead, the parish council hopes the proposed building, on the village car park, will include a hall, meeting room, library, foyer, and a parish o
MELBOURN may be in line to get a £500,000 environmentally-friendly community centre.
If the project should go ahead, the parish council hopes the proposed building, on the village car park, will include a hall, meeting room, library, foyer, and a parish office.
There would be no loss of parking for villagers.
Some of the 'green' aspects of the building would include toilets with climate control systems, a rain absorbent and natural coloured roof, and acoustic controlled noise level monitors.
Parish Councillor Michael Sherwen said: "The village does not have a community centre. This will provide a hall which will seat around 150 people.
"At the moment there is nowhere in South Cambs that can do that, apart from village colleges, which are expensive.
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"There's a big need, and it's been on the council agenda for at least two years.
"However, it's been a subject of discussion in the village since before the Second World War apparently.
"It's a big topic of discussion."
At least half the project would be funded by the Big Lottery Fund if the application is successful.
The remainder of the cost would be raised by the community through fund-raising projects.
Cllr Sherwen said: "The building has got to pay for itself, so we feel the expenditure at this time for the long- term benefits of the community and environment is justified."
The parish council is holding a presentation open day on Saturday at Vicarage Close Centre, where people will be able to meet architects, and ask councillors questions.
A questionnaire has also been circulating around the village to try to establish the need for such a building, because help from the Big Lottery Fund depends on there being a 'need'.
The deadline for the application is April.
Cllr Sherwen said: "There's a lot of people putting a lot of time and energy into the project.
