Foundation stone laid for the new Community Centre

The new community centre for Cullompton came a step nearer reality this week when the foundation stone of the £1.5 million project was laid.

 

 

The Bishop of Crediton, the Right Reverend Robert Evens, and Cullompton’s Town Mayor, Cllr Wendy Gillings put the foundation stone into place at St Andrew’s Church in Church Street on Thursday 20^th January 2011. Invited guests, such as local councillors, members of the church, people who took part in public consultation about the centre, partners and funding agencies, saw pupils from the town’s St Andrew’s Primary School and Willowbank Primary School and children from St Andrew’s Church bury a time capsule next to the stone. The capsule is being put together by the youngsters in an effort to reflect life in Cullompton in 2011.

 

The stone-laying event was hosted by the Reverend Edward Hobbs of St Andrew’s Church who took to the controls of a JCB two months ago to take the first ‘scoop’ of earth towards digging the foundations for centre. This next step in the project is an exciting one for the local community and one which the Bishop of Crediton has been looking forward to.

 

“The laying of the foundation stone means the new Community Centre is about to become a reality,” he said. “It shows how a partnership between local Christian churches, community groups and civic leaders can offer a unique gift to the people of Cullompton. When the building is completed I hope many will feel welcome and enjoy being part of it.”

 

The building work has been made possible after St Andrew’s Church received a grant of £700,000 from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). The RDPE grant - the largest given to a community organisation to date – followed a grant from Devon County Council for £250,000, a grant from Uffculme Environmental Ltd (in partnership with Viridor Credits Environmental Company) for £31,365 and £341,000 raised by the church itself. Successful application for RDPE funding followed consultation with local businesses, communities and individuals.

 

When complete the community centre will provide a variety of much-needed facilities and services for people in and around the town and is a key part of its regeneration. It will be built next to the Grade 1 listed St Andrew’s Church, replacing the two existing church halls that were demolished to make way for it last year.

 

“This new building will be a focal point for our community and the laying of the foundation stone marks the beginning of a new chapter for Cullompton,” said Cllr Wendy Gillings.

 

“Many people have fond memories of the previous building and I am sure that many new memories will be made in the new one.  So many people have worked together to make this vision a reality and I am honoured to have been asked to be a part of it.”

 

The multipurpose centre will include small meeting rooms, office space and a venue where conferences, concerts and productions can be put on with a seating capacity of up to 180 people. It will be fully equipped with audio/visual technology, kitchens and  lift. There will be an entrance ‘hub’ area where people can drop in during the week and browse at a bookstall, relax and have a coffee. Local groups and organisations will also be able to hire rooms.

 

It will be fully accessible to people with disabilities and its sustainable design will use the latest construction technologies to cut the carbon footprint by 85% compared to equivalent use of the former halls.