Community centre project milestone

PLANS for a new community centre in Westbury have reached a milestone moment, with the local charity behind the project signing the lease for the former youth centre building.

Westbury Community Project plans to transform the building on Eden Vale Road into a vibrant community hub, offering space to local groups and organisations.

The asset transfer of the building from Wiltshire Council to the charity allows the group to take responsibility for the building and press ahead with their plans for refurbishment and open it to the public – which they hope could be in a matter of ‘weeks or months’. 

At the lease signing, the charity was also presented with a cheque for over £3,000 from former mayor, cllr Ian Cunningham. The money was raised during cllr Cunningham’s time as mayor at a number of fundraising events.

Speaking to White Horse News, cllr Cunningham, who is also a trustee of the Westbury Community Project said, “This is a major moment for the project, and we would like to thank Wiltshire Council for the asset transfer. We are extremely excited for the future and all the possibilities for how the new community centre will help to improve life in the community. We have a long list of groups and organisations that want to be involved – we can’t wait to get started.”

However, before the centre can open, the group must repair damage caused to the building by vandals. 

In March this year, vandals caused ‘thousands of pounds’ worth of damage by smashing windows, ripping out electrical conduits, and starting a small fire. And vandals have recently struck again, pushing the total amount needed for repairs into ‘tens of thousands of pounds’.

Cllr Cunningham said, “Raising enough money for repairs is going to be a challenge for us. With the lease now signed, our next step is to repair the damage – there isn’t a window or door that hasn’t been damaged, and all electrical wiring has gone. 

“However we are still hopefully that it will take weeks or months, rather than years, to have activities taking place in the centre.”

Pictured front page l-r: Popcan’s Tina Devereux; Scott Jacobs-Lange from Sovereign Housing; chair and trustee of Westbury Community Project Richard Hatt; cllr Ian Cunningham; trustee Stacey Budge and town council administrator Sarah Barker.