AFTER years of fundraising and planning, Southwold's new community hall was officially opened at the weekend.

AFTER years of fundraising and planning, Southwold's new community hall was officially opened at the weekend.

The Stella Peskett Millennium Hall, in Mights Road, was opened by mayor Teresa Baggott on Saturday and guests were finally given the chance to see the new community facilities.

The opening marked the completion of the project, which was started by the Southwold Millennium Foundation in 2000. The old hall was demolished in March 2003.

The new building has a main hall with space for 150 people, a computer room and kitchen. It is already home to a voluntary help centre, the Southwold and Reydon corps of drums and hosts activities from digital photography and advanced IT to yoga and tai chi.

Michael Ladd, chairman of the Southwold Millennium Foundation, said that 55 people have already signed up to take part in IT classes at the new centre, which have been organised in partnership with Lowestoft College, Waveney Community Forum and the Waveney Learning Community.

Mr Ladd said: “We set out to build a hall for all the community to use. It has taken us a long time, but we have been raising all the money along the way.

“We've also been awarded grant funding from NHS Yarmouth and Waveney to run a cooking caf� in the hall's kitchen. The intention is to have sessions there for young people to teach them about healthy eating, nutrition and cooking.”