Plans to give social hub a big facelift

Maxwell Kusi Obodum • Published 29 Mar 2012 12:30 2 Comments

AMBITIOUS plans to transform an ageing community centre into a thriving social hub are on show this week.

Reading Borough Council is unveiling architects' impressions of proposed renovations to Southcote Youth And Community Centre, in Coronation Square.

The scheme, which includes refurbishing the centre's lounge, kitchen, toilets and entrance, is part of a deal to improve community facilities on the estate to replace the Happy Prospect pub.

The badly damaged pub was knocked down last year and developers PMC Construction are building a 16-unit affordable housing complex in its place. But the company, which was granted planning permission last autumn, must contribute towards improving the community centre, as part of the deal. The authority, which has spent nearly a year canvassing neighbours' views, is also providing extra money from its Decent Neighbourhoods Fund.

Council communities and neighbourhoods leader, Cllr Rachel Eden, said: "We want the community centre to be somewhere people in Southcote are part of and it's only right residents shape it. I would encourage everyone in the neighbourhood to come along and tell us what they think."

The plans went on show at a drop-in session yesterday (Wednesday) and there are two remaining sessions at the community centre from 2-5pm tomorrow (Friday) and 10.30am-12.30pm on Saturday.

Questionnaires, which are also being distributed to all homes on the estate, can be returned to Southcote Library, Southcote Advice Shop or the Community Centre. Neighbours are also needed to join a streering group to help develop the plans.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 29 Mar 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  Kenneth Dope
  Unregistered User
  Mar 29, 14:14
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  A great way to spend taxpayer's wonga. Nevermind the fact the police are under budget, hospitals and schools closing as long as there is some touchy-feely politically correct cr*p to splash out on. Come in Great Britain, your time is clearly up...
  
  Recommend?   Yes 12     No 5

• 

  sigh..
  Unregistered User
  Mar 29, 15:12
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  It's not taxpayers, funding coming from the developer as part of agreement due to loss of community pub site (which closed a few years back):
  
  "the company, which was granted planning permission last autumn, must contribute towards improving the community centre, as part of the deal."
  
  Shouldn't we at least read articles before commenting on things?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 6     No 10

• 

  ******
  Aug 14, 03:42
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• 

  ******
  Sep 27, 19:26
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