Greenham's residents turned out to celebrate their new-look community centre on Saturday after a £75,000 makeover of the facility and surrounding area on the Nightingales estate.
Resident groups secured the funding from Sovereign Housing Group and Greenham Common Trust, along with contributions from Thames Valley Police and West Berkshire Council, to give a new lease of life to the Greenham Community Centre and the area around the shops.
The Greenham Community Association worked with a Sovereign architect to manage the project to replace old windows, doors and flooring, fit out a new office for the local neighbourhood warden scheme, install bikestands, and provide a safer and more welcoming entrance. The whole area has also been repaved with colourful brickwork to complement the new look centre.
Association chairman Arthur Johnson said: “We’re a volunteer body, and it’s taken us a lot of effort to get all the works completed. Now that it’s all complete, we hope more of the estate will want to get involved in the many activities hosted here. The centre is also available for private bookings and parties”
Sovereign Regeneration Coordinator Lisa Denison said: “We’re delighted to have been able to help create a community centre to be proud of. An attractive venue for the estate is vital to help foster community spirit as well as providing much needed services for local people.”
Julian Swift-Hook from Greenham Common Trust’s Distribution Committee, who is also the local district councilor, added: “The £30,000 provided by the Greenham Common Trust to kick-start this worthwhile project has enabled the centre to become a real asset for the whole community that will be enjoyed by local residents for years to come.”
The centre makeover forms is the latest in a long line of improvements for the 600-home estate. Already, the Nightingales has benefited from two new play areas, CCTV cameras, a games area for young people, and neighbourhood wardens patrolling regularly to reduce fear of crime. The next phase of improvements are currently being developed.
Published 25 May 2006
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