THOSE who helped Hatherleigh realise its long-held dream of a new community centre gathered last Thursday for a ceremony marking the start of work on the £1.6-million project. Construction work is underway on the site off Hatherleigh roundabout and it is expected the new centre will open its doors next September. The centre will provide a main hall for sports and arts activities, a children?s centre through the government-supported Sure Start initiative, and will house a business advice and support service. Mayor of Hatherleigh Cllr Gary Bush welcomed guests to the ceremony and paid tribute to the ?hard work and dedication? of a group of local people to bring the project to fruition. He also thanked the local community ?whose patience was now being rewarded?. Michael Whiteley, chair of the town hall committee, said the provision of a new community hall for Hatherleigh had first been identified in a survey of residents more than ten years ago. He said following the foot and mouth crisis in 2001, which the Hatherleigh area had been terribly hard hit by, the Government set up the MCTI (Market and Coastal Towns Initiative) to help regenerate areas affected by the crisis. People in the area were asked what they wanted to improve about the town at a series of workshop events and the need for a modern community centre to replace the existing 100-year-old town hall was stressed. Mr Whiteley said local people had already raised a lot of money towards the project, but fundraising would continue. On New Year?s Day, the traditional Walruses? dip in the River Lew would take place and it was hoped this would raise about £2,000 for the children?s play area at the new centre. Richard Stacey, of contractors J E Stacey and Co, said if funding could be secured the building would be heated by way of an inventive heat pump system. He said the centre was likely to pull in visitors from outlying villages so the plans made provision for 50 car parking spaces. Mr Bush said the centre would be something of which ?the people of Hatherleigh and the surrounding villages can be rightfully proud.? He hoped it would be well used by townspeople, especially the young. ?Hopefully, the multi-use games area will encourage the young people to use the centre. ?Activities for young people is one big area that is currently missing in Hatherleigh,? he said.