By Lisa CleverdonA COMMUNITY centre plagued by crime could close if a plan for a multi-million-pound facelift are not given the go-ahead.A proposal to replace the existing St John's Centre on the College Heath estate in Mildenhall has not moved forward since Forest Heath District Council first mooted it a year ago.

By Lisa Cleverdon

A COMMUNITY centre plagued by crime could close if a plan for a multi-million-pound facelift are not given the go-ahead.

A proposal to replace the existing St John's Centre on the College Heath estate in Mildenhall has not moved forward since Forest Heath District Council first mooted it a year ago.

Members of the council's Mildenhall regeneration working group have agreed to discuss the matter at a forthcoming meeting.

But if the scheme still does not go forward, the council could close the centre once and for all.

Members of the working group will be asked to agree a grant of £1million towards the cost of building a new centre, as well as an additional £1m to run the building.

St John's Centre, which currently costs the council £32,000 a year to run, has been a target for vandals in recent months.

A report to go before the working party said: “There is a broad agreement on the vision and need for a new centre, but little desire to turn this into a reality. A mechanism and funding are needed to make progress.”

Nigel Roman, chairman of the working party chairman, added: “Something needs to be done to help the area.

“We need some rejuvenation up there and I would like to see more shops, including a chemists and part-time doctors' surgery.”

lisa.cleverdon@eadt.co.uk