Community celebration (From Warrington Guardian)

Community celebration

COMMUNITY groups are celebrating news of a major windfall for a long-awaited redevelopment project.

Work is due to start this spring on creating a multi-purpose centre to cater for a host of groups and organisations across Biddulph.

The centre is due to be built at Biddulph Methodist Church at a cost of £360,000, and could be open by the end of the year.

The project received a massive boost this week from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, which has given £60,000 plus £34,000 if the scheme attracts VAT.

Superintendent minister Philip Lockett is now waiting for news of a lottery bid for the project which was launched 16 months ago.

If the bid is successful the church will be about £30,000 short of its £360,000 target taking into account other promised grants and fund-raising.

"We are absolutely delighted with news of the award from the Coalfields Trust," said Mr Lockett.

"We cater for a lot of community groups at the old school, but we also have requests from a whole range of others for whom the building is not suitable.

"It is on three levels, was built more than 130 years ago, and is old and unsafe.

"It is no longer suitable for community meeting purposes and does not comply with the 2000 disability legislation."

The scheme involves creating a community development and resource centre on the site of the current car park.

The old school will be demolished and redeveloped into a new car park.

Members of the church and groups who use the old school were invited to suggest names for the centre.

Almost 200 people were asked for their suggestions, and were invited to vote on a shortlist of 20 names.

The name chosen is due to be announced at a church council meeting at the end of next month.

The project is due to receive £100,000 from the Methodist Church, and a further £50,000 from the Staffordshire Environmental Fund.

Mr Lockett is awaiting news of a grant bid to the Community Fund, part of the National Lottery.

Mr Lockett said work on the scheme could start in the spring, and would take eight months to complete.

"We will have a seven-days a week community facility, intended to play a major part in the town's regeneration," he said.

The project was launched in October 2003, and has received planning approval from the district council.