Carterton Community Centre is in the middle of a new estate of 1,500 homes built on the north eastern edge of the town. The Centre cost £1.4m to build and a further £50,000 has been spent on fitting it out. Funding came from the developers (£642,000), the South East Economic Development Agency (£120,000), Wren Landfill Tax (£30,000) and Carterton Town Council (£658,000). The contribution from the Town Council was funded by the sale of a brown field site with planning permission.

Work on the Centre began in the summer of 2006 when the Town Council held a series of community planning days involving a range of potential users. The Architects then produced designs for public consultation and planning consent was obtained. The building contractors, Stepnells, started on site in November 2007 and the building was completed in November 2008 with the first groups moving in before Christmas.

The Town Council has leased the building to Carterton Community Centre Limited (CCC Ltd) which is a limited company and also a charity, to enable it to benefit from tax exemptions. There is a part-time Centre Manager and a Caretaker.

The Centre provides high quality flexible accommodation for a large range of activities, including a community cafe. For further details including booking arrangements, see the website address below.

The Royal Opening

The Carterton Community Centre was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal on Friday 13th February 2009.

The Princess Royal arrived at the Centre at 2.30 p.m. and spent more than an hour inside talking to local groups and organisations and enjoying a tour of the building. She then took time to meet members of the public outside the Centre before leaving for her next engagement at 3.50 p.m.

For further information about the Centre and booking details, go to www.cartertoncommunitycentre.com or telephone the Manager, Gill Carver, on 01993 842807.

 





Photographs: Peter White