Great Lumley Community Centre Set for £500,000 Renovation

A village community centre is slated for refurbishment, having secured more than £500,000 in financial backing. The Great Lumley Community Centre’s ownership is in the process of being transferred from Durham County Council to the local parish council, a move intended to facilitate an expansion of the centre’s offerings. According to the county council, the allocated funds are designated for enhancing the building and its amenities, enabling the centre to provide a broader range of activities for local residents. Phil Heaviside, who chairs the Great Lumley Parish Council, stated that this transfer would guarantee the centre remains “at the heart of village life.” “It has taken more than ten years to get to this point and we look forward to getting started on our refurbishment plans,” he commented. He added, “The centre means a great deal to our community and the refurbishment will allow us to offer a functional gym space and dance studio as well as a café and meeting rooms for groups to use.” Durham County Council specified that £480,000, sourced from capital funding and Section 106 funding, alongside contributions from two councillors’ Towns and Villages budgets, would cover the centre’s refurbishment and ongoing maintenance. An extra £20,000 has been supplied by the Chester-le-Street Area Action Partnership to fund a centre manager position, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund has granted £20,950. The transfer of the site’s ownership to the parish council is expected to enable the council to pursue grant funding opportunities that are unavailable to the local authority. For updates, follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. Please note that the BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.