Back on track for centre
A project that started more than 20 years ago to build a community centre is gaining momentum.
The plans to replace a 40-year-old building in Sutton-on-Trent have been resurrected three times, but villagers are hopeful the money can finally be raised.
The latest proposal is for a 250-seat main hall with a smaller meeting room, a kitchen and changing facilities.
The sports and community centre committee would also like an extra junior football pitch, a cricket pitch and an all-weather pitch with three tennis courts.
The facility, to be built on the current centre site at Grassthorpe Road, is expected to cost about £1.3m.
About £14,000 has been raised through events, including a ball at Kelham Hall that raised £8,000. Further events are planned at the centre, including a gardeners’ question time a week tomorrow.
The committee chairman, Mr Garth Robertshaw, said they hoped to raise £50,000 in the village. They were also looking at applying for grants from, for example, the National Lottery.
Mr Robertshaw said Sutton-on-Trent Parish Council had committed about £17,000 and the project had received support from the district and county councillors for the village, Mrs Christine Rose and Mr Bruce Laughton.
Mr Laughton this week gave £500 from his electoral division initiative fund to cover the committee’s administration costs.
A member of the sports and community centre’s building sub-committee, Mr Bert Smith, said the new centre was a priority because many other facilities had gone from the village.
He said a youth club and the church hall had closed.
A new youth club at the community centre is attracting up to 50 youngsters and is being run by volunteers supported by Nottinghamshire County Council.
For more information about the centre project visit
