THE creation of a new community centre on a large housing estate in north Suffolk has received a major boost with a grant of more than £120,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

By David Lennard

THE creation of a new community centre on a large housing estate in north Suffolk has received a major boost with a grant of more than £120,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

The money, a total of £121,793, will help establish a new community centre for the Bloodmoor Hill area of Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft.

New homes have been built in the area over the past 15 years and fresh properties are still being constructed.

When the project is completed there will be approximately 1,000 homes and more than 3,000 people living there.

In 1995 the Bloodmoor Hill Community Association was formed and has since been campaigning for vital facilities.

Two redundant mobile classrooms are currently being used as a “temporary” community centre but, although they have been of great benefit, they cannot cope with an ever-increasing demand from local residents.

The management committee of the community association is chaired by Ron Bell, a member of Waveney District Council.

Mr Bell said the housing developer was helping to provide funds for the new community centre and welcomed the grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

“A new permanent community centre will provide much needed additional facilities for children and young people as well as for the elderly and will expand and enhance the facilities currently provided by the existing temporary building,” he said.

“The total project cost is estimated to be £264,000. Of this the Bloodmoor Hill Community Association will contribute the money set aside for community facilities by the housing developer, which was just over £92,000 together with £10,000 from its own fund-raising efforts.”

Mr Bell added that the Big Lottery grant had been the project's saviour.

“Without the grant from the Big Lottery Fund the project was in danger of stalling and in that event the money from the developer would have to be returned,” he said.

“We are therefore very grateful to the Big Lottery Fund.”

The community association has also applied for funding from other sources and hopes to have more good news later this year.

Chris Punt, Waveney District Council's portfolio holder for housing and social inclusion, also welcomed the Big Lottery grant.

He said it was vital that a community of 3,000 people had a building that could become its hub and help establish a strong local identity.