Delighted residents and community leaders have welcomed the launch of a long awaited new community centre.
Following months of fears that the project would be derailed by vandalism, developers Lakehouse Contracts Ltd officially handed the keys over to new owners Rooksdown Community Association.
The gleaming centre, off Hollies Road, on the site of the recently demolished Park Prewett Villas, features state-of-the-art green technology designed to keep bills down.
Debbie Adlam, chairwoman of the Rooksdown Community Association, said the centre was sorely needed for the community.
“We have wanted this for nearly 17 years, I can’t believe this day has finally come - we have so much planned for this place,” she said.
And borough council communities chief, Councillor Clive Sanders, said the centre was the first step to creating a thriving neighbourhood.
He said: “This is an important first step. It will give a heart to the area and a lot of opportunity for people to do things. I think it will be just a step along the way to creating a full and vibrant community.”
Building work on the £1.1m centre started in February this year. According to the Oxford-based architects Rachel Aspinall, and David Grundy, hidden behind the scenes are a host of flagship green technologies.
The heating is powered by a ground source heat pump which uses heat from the soil to control the temperature. And an automatic, sensor driven ventilation system controls airflow and carbon dioxide levels.
“The design of the building is to maximise flexibility, maximise day light, and make it easy to use,” said Mr Grundy. “The people running the centre are the community and they can just turn up and be able to use it.”
The community’s joy at seeing the centre opened follows months of fears that vandalism, and bats living in the neighbouring derelict Villas, would delay its opening.
Site manager James Fanstone said the vandalism spilt onto the site. “We had great support from the police, and Hampshire Fire and Rescue. But we had break-ins and thefts as well, which hampered us,” he said.
He added that despite the issues, the work was completed on time and budget.
And following the launch, Rooksdown Parish Council vice chairman, Cllr Colin Statham, announced that the parish had given the Basingstoke district Scouts a £1,500 grant to kick-start a new Scout group based in the centre.
He said: “At long, long last we have a community facility to help us build the community.”
