Town Talk


Local news for Snodland and Halling


Centre’s long-awaited extension is opened


THE £500,000 extension to Snod- land Community Centre was opened by Aylesford and Chatham MP Tracey Crouch. Chairman of Snodland Town Council, Anne Moloney, said: "I don't think we ever expected this day to come and yet now we are able to celebrate these wonderful extensions which will serve the local community formany years. "This really has been a commu-


nity effort. The finished building – well almost finished – has been planned for more than 25 years and we have to pinch ourselves to remind us that this isn't a dream." The extension includes the Pad- dlesworth Room and the football changing rooms. The majority of the funding, £350,000, came from a section 106 agreement from the Berkeley Homes development at Holbor- ough Lakes. Further grants were received from Sport England's In- spired Facilities Fund, KentCounty Council, the Snodland Partnership and Malling Lions. Anne added: "The finished proj- ect is way beyond expectations


MP Tracey Crouch opens the extension with Cllr Anne Moloney (left) and Dilys Crook,


chairman of the Community Centre Associ- ation


and I really do hope that local peo- ple find huge pleasure in using this first-class venue." The day after the opening, local organisations were invited to in- spect the extension. Community centre association vice-chairman Chris Howick said: "Reactions were very positive when the doors opened to the public to view the recent improvements dur- ing an open day. "After a chat and refreshments visitors were given a tour of the fa- cilities, which includes a new set of


function rooms known as the Pad- dlesworth Rooms and more changing rooms, as well as a big- ger kitchen and bar. "It has taken a long time and Iam


sure the people of Snodland will find it an attractive facility for all the different things they want to do." Local resident, Keith Holdstock,


said: "It is an excellent facility and with good prices," while his wife, Joan, was delighted that the new function rooms were able to incor- porate views of the North Downs from its patio.


Linda’s dream finally realised


LINDA Barton had a dream in 1978. She realised during the Queen's Silver Jubilee the previ- ous year that Snodland, a village beginning to grow, did not have a venue for big cele- brations. Now Linda How-


ick, president of the community centre associa- tion, she organised a petition of 2,000 signatures which was pre- sented to the parish council. A dedicated band of volunteers


was keen to raise the funds, but the original estimate of £70,000 soared to £175,000. Work began on the building in


March 1985 and it was opened on July 4, 1987 by TVS weatherman Ron Lobeck. But the building was not big enough and fundraising went on. An extension was funded by Smurfit Kappa Townsend Hook for a boxing club and a gym. A section 106 agreement relat-


ing to the Holborough Lakes de- velopment brought in £350,000 and Sport England's Inspired Fa- cilities Fund gave £50,000. Kent County Council gave a


grant of £30,000 and the Snodland Partnership donated £20,000.


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