Tadley's £900,000 youth centre set for end of April opening
Latest date follows months of setbacks
TADLEY’s new £900,000 youth centre is set to open its doors at the end of April, after months of setbacks and delays.
A comment posted on social media on February 19 by Tadley and District Community Association (TDCA) – the organisation overseeing the project – stated: “The latest revised completion date is scheduled for the end of April.”
This latest completion date features on the TDCA website, prominent among its social media posts, however trustees declined to comment further about the opening date when approached by the Newburytoday.
Trustee Avril Burdett did confirm, however, that the total costs of the project were on track.
She said: “We won’t know the final costs until all the bills come in, but we are currently where we would expect to be.”
Eight years in the making, The Point began to take shape in August last year ahead of an initial scheduled opening date in November on part of the former Burnham Copse Infant School site, in Newchurch Road, behind Tadley and District Community Centre, which is also managed by the TDCA.
The opening was put back until January this year owing to a shortage of skilled craftsmen, in particular carpenters, to finish the construction of the timber building.
The centre has been based on a tree house design chosen by the town’s youngsters, who contributed to the initial feasibility study three years ago.
The new £900,000 community facility will be available to the area’s 11- to 19-year-olds from 4pm to 9pm on Mondays to Fridays, and will feature a café area and meeting hall equipped with pool tables and video games, free wi-fi and juke box.
The facility will also be available to the wider community during the daytime and weekends and features additional meeting rooms and a first-floor performance hall and recording studio.
Funds for the building include: Public Works loan – £150,000; Turbury Allotment Charity – £300,000; Greenham Common Trust – £65,000; Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council – £182,300; and Tadley Town Council – £160,000.
TDCA says for every £1 contributed by Tadley council tax payers, it has secured an additional £2.88 in grants or donations from other funding sources for the project.
It added: “The land that was purchased by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council from Hampshire County Council for just £1 is likely to be land-locked in future years when houses are constructed on the adjoining former school site.”
Local businesses offering sponsorship and donations are still being sought, to fund furnishings and equipment, with volunteers for the café area also needed.
For more details contact TDCA on (0118) 981 4538.