Work is steaming ahead on getting a temporary community centre ready to serve the needs of neighbours in Whitley.
The current Whitley Wood Community Centre is an older concrete prefabricated building at the junction of Swallowfield Drive and Copenhagen Close.
While it can be hired out for people to use, a survey was conducted that deemed the existing building unsound in the near future.
Reading Borough Council conducted repairs and reinforcement works to ensure it is safe for temporary use, and now the council is working on replacing it with an all new centre that neighbours can be proud of.
To that end, a temporary structure in Lexington Grove is being installed so that neighbours are not cut off from community centre access.
There were plans stretching back to 2007 to establish a new community hub for the area, but that scheme was shelved due to austerity.
Councillor Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) said: “We felt as councillors, we marched our residents up to the top of a hill on a new community centre and it didn’t happen, due to austerity coming in and and budgets.
“We’ve given our word as councillors that this will go ahead and this was our way as councillors saying to residents that you will get a temporary one so there is something physical there for you to use and its better than the one you’ve got.”
While there is the South Reading Community Hub in Northumberland Avenue, which provides a range of services, it can be distant for people who rely on public transport.
Cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles (Labour, Whitley) explained: “If you live further south, it means you have to take two buses.
“If you have a disability, and you are thinking: I’m on my own and I want my independence, I can do other things but I struggle when I need to get two buses to get to the South Reading Community Hub.
“Ironically, it can take someone over an hour just to get from one place to another. It’s very near if you look at it on a map, but far for people with difficulties.”
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Cllr Mpofu-Coles stressed that ‘co production’ with neighbours is one of the most important in crafting facilities and council services, which includes both the temporary community centre site and the new permanent centre coming in the future.
She said: “We spoke to residents, and they said they want a community centre that facilitates from zero up to the oldest person.
“Loneliness is one of those things that affects many people, because they don’t have a place to go to have a cup of coffee or have a chat with someone.
“It affects mums and dads. They need a place where they can look forward to going to.
“We listened to that, and this temporal structure will have some facilities that will cater for that.”
The council has started on a project for a new community centre in consultation with neighbours and ward councillors including cllr Rachel Eden, who also represents the area.
Cllr Leng explained: “That project starts now, the designs, the decisions, what residents want to see on the new centre, is there an alternative site that could be used, all these things will be looked at.”
The temporary centre is due to open on Sunday, March 24.
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