Plans move forward for new community centre

PLANS for an exciting community centre in Westbury are being drawn up on the site of the former youth centre.

Members of the Westbury Community Project are celebrating the news that Wiltshire Council has agreed in principle to transfer ownership of the former youth centre, allowing them to progress plans to create a vibrant community hub, offering space to local groups and organisations.

Chair of trustees of the group, Richard Hatt, who is also headteacher of Westbury Juniors School, is now calling for Wiltshire Council to formalise the community asset transfer as soon as possible to allow the group to secure funding for the project and fix a date to open the centre.

At last week’s Westbury Area Board meeting, Richard said, “I’ve accepted that by Christmas things should be in place – the funding stream and the community asset transfer –  then I think we should be able to set the opening date. I want to get something happening in there – maybe the training rooms being fully equipped – I want something happening in there very soon!”

Plans for the building off Eden Vale Road, which closed four years ago after falling victim to Wiltshire Council dismantling its youth service, will see the development of a vibrant community hub, offering space to local groups and organisations.

Currently involved in the project are Wiltshire College, who would use the centre as an outpost, delivering training courses to all ages, Westbury Youth Football Club, Westbury Shed, and Westbury Juniors and Infants schools.

The centre will also house a community cafe, office space and will offer space available for hire to businesses such as local pre-schools.

Richard said, “It is really very heartening, there are lots of community people doing lots of wonderful things and the Westbury Community Project, which is looking to take over the old youth centre is in the middle of all of this.

“We want to enhance the community of Westbury, as we have felt that Westbury has been overlooked in recent years. 

“I am pleased to say that the community asset transfer has been given the all-clear from County Hall. They are very happy with our business plan, what we have in place and want to support us.”

At the area board meeting, councillors voted unanimously to ask Wiltshire Council to progress the community asset transfer as soon as possible.