A BRAND new community centre is in the pipeline for a West Devon village, following the hand-over of land by a major housing developer. The new centre will be constructed at Lydvale in Lifton, on land set aside for community use under the terms of West Devon?s local plan. The land has now formally been handed over to the trustees of the new centre by Midas Homes, which has completed its work on the Lydvale development. The village?s action committee has been resurrected to start the fundraising campaign ? and trustees are hoping residents in the village will make their views known on what facilities they would like to see included at the new centre. Patsy Bragg, the trustee?s treasurer, said: ?We have already sent out questionnaires to residents, asking them what they would like to see included in the community centre. ?We?ve put in some suggestions, but we really need feedback from everybody ? and hopefully support too.? Mrs Bragg said the trustees already hold some £18,000-worth of funds for the new centre ? applications will be made to a number of funders such as the National Lottery and Defra, but these cannot be submitted until the action committee has some positive feedback from the parish. Mrs Bragg suspected around £500,000 would be required. ?What we don?t want is a high-falutin? white elephant,? she said. ?We want something that?s amicable to everybody, so we can cater for all needs ? something for the pensioners, something for the youngsters, for everyone. ?There is a definite need for something like this, there?s nothing like this in the village. The church hall is condemned, it?s not worth rebuilding it, so we have to build a new centre.? Mrs Bragg said the action committee hoped youngsters and parents would get behind the fundraising drive for the new centre and in so doing, improve community spirit in Lifton. ?It?s for the future generations ? let?s see some of the parents come forward and do something for their children,? she said. Uses so far suggested for the new community centre include a youth club, tennis, netball, basketball, a children?s day nursery, badminton, information technology workshops, a climbing wall, an internet café and art classes. There will be plenty of space for parking and a new building will be fully accessible for the disabled. Advice on the scheme is being sought by West Devon Borough Council, Westden and Tavistock and District Council of Voluntary Service. Dawn Rogers, West Devon?s ward member for the area, said: ?Lifton had a village appraisal about ten years ago and from that it was found that people would like a community centre. ?There is so much the new centre could be used for ? the planning permission is there, it?s about getting the package right for what people want.?
