BUILDING of the Leigh Park Community Centre is expected to start in June this year, with a completion date anticipated for December.
Original estimates had hoped to see building commence in April, but the completion date remains the same. After more than a decade of planning, funding for the community centre was secured last year. It is hoped that a contractor will be appointed by the end of March, while a design development phase will take place during April and May. During this time, final details about the building specification will be negotiated and agreed between Wiltshire Council, Persimmon, the contractor, and the Leigh Park Community Association.
Russell Hawker, Wiltshire councillor for Westbury west said, “It is a case of the works programme becoming clearer now that contractors involved in the tender process have had a chance to discuss the details with Persimmon, and indicate what timescale they can actually work to.
“It appears that some stages are taking a little longer to progress whilst other stages seem to be getting quicker, with an overall result that the whole construction project is still expected to finish in or around December this year.”
Located on land next to Palomino Place, the new community centre will include a large indoor hall, as well as offices, ancillary rooms, kitchen, and toilets.
Housing developer Persimmon is funding the centre as part of agreements for housing in the area, while the Westbury Area Board has also awarded a grant of £8,000 which will go towards items to equip the hall such as a sound system. Once the construction of the hall is complete, the Leigh Park Community Association will take on the management of the centre.