Page 19 - link magazine

THE COM1VUNITY THAT WILL WORK THROUGH
**LATEST NEWS**
COOPERATION
* Well , there's not really a lot new tosal
The Freshbrook Community Centre is at last
becoming a reality. It is literally being * However, as a result of pressure a year
ago, children up to 8 years old are t to
bolted and screwed together at the Fresh- * stay on at the Toothill and Oliver Tomkir
brook Village Centre and should be ready, *
* School during this year, and. the new
all being well, at the end of October. r
* Freshbrook is planned to open in April 81
The building will measure 84 feet by 24 ft* ;;1eanw}while, the County Counci l will contir
and will have a main hall, lounge/meeting * to scour local bus companies for spare
room, kitchen and toilets. It will act as * coaches to take junior and secondary chi]
a temporary facility until such times * as * ren to the Park Schools.
money comes available to build a permanent
* Is there anything we can do? 1'iell, it is
purpose built community centre.
clear that the decision a year ago to kee
*
The Freshbrook project is a unique example 7 year olds at local schools was due to
*
of partnership and cooperation a Residents pressure put on the County Council. It is
Organisation, two Local Authorities, the * also clear that it is the Councillors,
Developers building houses in Freshbrook * the politicians who represent us, who
and an organisation giving work to unem- * are against building more schools and whc
ploycd youngsters. * want to keep bussing indefinitely If yon
l
The Freshbrook Village Group has acquired * REALLY ',"ANT JUNIOR EDUCATION here for
YOUR CHILDREN, then it is NOT TOO EARLY
°
a Pratten Hut from 'idiltshire C C Education *
Committee for a token sum of £100. The * TO START SAYING SO. What you say can have
Community Planning Committee of Thamesdown effect-if you do nothing it is assumed yc
n : Borough Council (which is responsible for * do not mind. It takes effort to write a
community development in Swindon) has made * letter to say that you are concerned -
up to £10,000 available to see that the * but it is worth doing. Write to:
project is adequately financed. This Mrs. Joan Main, Chairwoman, Uducation
will
pay for building materials, roofing, ser- * Committee, ;lilts. C ° C.; County Hall,
vice connections and other expenses. * Trowbridge, Wilts.
Thamesdown Council will also make grants
Grp.
y David Attwood Sec. Education Action Gr
availabl ; to help with running expenses '
* 63 Ga.kham Close, Toothill
when the centre is open.
*fl j(it fl *H Yt * P9 *t*? *fl )hiP i; *TVA
3( 1 I *qp }9)(1?*H-F"*lih}03fGi
The work of dismantling and re-erecting th* PRIVATE: FOR CHILDREN'S EYES ONLY!!
Pratten Hut is being undertak n by
?I F.ES,BROOK YOUTH CLUB" Did you
Community Industry, an organisation which °°°°°°°°° "
employs 16-18 year olde, .o_ing people who * know that a youth club is being set up it
in other circumstances tivou1d have little * Freshbrook for 8 to 16 year olds?
chance of getting a job. There are now 10 We hope to use the new community centre
lads with an adult super'vis'or working on * when it opens in November. Until then 8-
the Freshbrook project, acquiring work ox- * 11 year olds are going (with adult escort
perience and learning how to work together over to Toothill Youth Club on Thursdays,
as a team. * leaving the entrance to Crawford Cl. © 7.
Several developers are making generous * If you are interested, contact
contributions to the community centre work* Geraldine Turner, 17 Crawford Close
By far the biggest help has come from * d ..c_k_e Merrick, 50 Crawford Close
. .
Ladbrok es who have paid ± r the s^ at x r >Eev .r;-r}ova vv * 1 *"*!*??*?xry *,?* *9?*;v
•
which are capable cf s u r o ii ng a block of (le. cu let alone a hut. 0' Flynns have pro-
vided the connections to the ' rai....age system; T-;.cr 3. 7 1s TR..11 supplying all the elec-
:,
trical fixtures and the cLcteians to fit it aLl; _ild ','_ . ea e are making available
1.i the kitchen units, a c z :r.t r to liX them all in and all' ie sanitary equipment.
y
Clarke Homes are left•..; u • have a plumber to connect tie toilets and kitchen sink
f to the appropriate pig: , :a ds are donating the fibreglass insulation and Kents
r
are chipping in the r:a .rri;ato:_ guttering system. Lastly K ennedy,=s (the builders merch-
ants) are making 25 litres of paint available. Not bad at all.
Somehow all these contributions will be coming together over the next few weeks so
that whilst it will not be a palace, the Pratten Hut will a place where people
living in Freshbrook can meet as a. communi ty. Already there is a playgroup, mothers
and toddlers group and a youth club ready to use the building. No doubt many more
activities will start up once the building is there.
There is a management committee_ for the community centre which will be responsible
for making sure the centre is financially viable. An open meeting will be shortly
after it is ready so that Froshbrock residents can say how best the building can be
run, what activities are needed in the area and what people there are to put them
into action. In the meantime, for further information please get in touch with
Mike Mugridge, Chairman, Freshbrook Community Centre Management Committee,
7 Turnham Green, Frehhbrook.