New community centre in Finchampstead, Wokingham gets planning approval
Residents in Finchampstead are a step closer to seeing a brand new, purpose-built community centre after getting the green light from Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday July 4.
Wokingham council is working alongside Finchampstead Baptist Church and Finchampstead Parish Council to develop the new community centre on council-owned land at Gorse Ride, Finchampstead (formerly occupied by the Rides Community Association). Proposals for the community-focused development include:
·A sports hall that would provide full facilities for a range of indoor sports and double as a large meeting/function room. On Sundays the hall would be used by the Baptist Church as their place of worship.
·A café
·A crèche
·Parish Council office
·Meeting room space
·A youth loft, offering space and facilities for work with the area’s young people
The proposal could also see improvements to the outside areas and football pitches. And Wokingham council is exploring the possibility of using the proposed new facility to host part of a multi-agency children’s centre, as well as a library – all subject to funding being available through grants from government Surestart, Sports England, Football Foundation and The Big Lottery.
Over the past 12 months, the project partners have been working closely with local groups to gauge the level of support for the proposed new centre. Finchampstead Parish Council supports the proposals, in addition to widespread support from the local community including the Neighbourhood Action Group, Gorse Ride Residents’ Association, local schools and a number of groups who use the existing community hall.
Executive member for Wokingham corporate services Cllr Rob Stanton said: “I look forward to working with both the Parish Council and the Baptist Church, as well as the Gorse Ride and wider Finchampstead community, to hopefully see this exciting project come to fruition.”
Wokingham council is working alongside Finchampstead Baptist Church and Finchampstead Parish Council to develop the new community centre on council-owned land at Gorse Ride, Finchampstead (formerly occupied by the Rides Community Association). Proposals for the community-focused development include:
·A sports hall that would provide full facilities for a range of indoor sports and double as a large meeting/function room. On Sundays the hall would be used by the Baptist Church as their place of worship.
·A café
·A crèche
·Parish Council office
·Meeting room space
·A youth loft, offering space and facilities for work with the area’s young people
The proposal could also see improvements to the outside areas and football pitches. And Wokingham council is exploring the possibility of using the proposed new facility to host part of a multi-agency children’s centre, as well as a library – all subject to funding being available through grants from government Surestart, Sports England, Football Foundation and The Big Lottery.
Over the past 12 months, the project partners have been working closely with local groups to gauge the level of support for the proposed new centre. Finchampstead Parish Council supports the proposals, in addition to widespread support from the local community including the Neighbourhood Action Group, Gorse Ride Residents’ Association, local schools and a number of groups who use the existing community hall.
Executive member for Wokingham corporate services Cllr Rob Stanton said: “I look forward to working with both the Parish Council and the Baptist Church, as well as the Gorse Ride and wider Finchampstead community, to hopefully see this exciting project come to fruition.”
Wokingham Borough Council
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