Cash has been put aside to ensure the Greenstead estate in Colchester gets a much-needed £600,000 community centre.

For several years residents' group Greenstead Community Association has been working to raise funds for the facility, to be built at the former Total garage site in Hawthorn Avenue.

The project has already been given £305,000 from the single regeneration bid, money which aims to inject resources into east Colchester.

Further grants are in the pipeline including a £100,000 national lottery bid to be submitted later this year and an application for £100,000 from the English Partnership Board.

The proposed site was contaminated and there have been delays in getting clearance for it to be developed.

As a result the English Partnership Board bid will not be agreed until the contamination experts give the go-ahead, expected at the end of December.

In the meantime while working on finer details, the proposed overall cost of the project has risen if it is to meet the estate's needs.

For example Greenstead Community Association would like a cafe and computer suites which could generate income and provide useful facilities.

At last night's (Monday's) meeting of Colchester Cabinet, members agreed to earmark a further £100,000 to ensure the group has sufficient funds before it instructs contractors to go ahead with detailed plans and prior to the tendering process.

The cabinet heard there was a risk the project could be lost if the group cannot draw the £200,000 single regeneration bid money by March next year.

If the lottery bid is successful the £100,000 agreed by cabinet last night will be used as a "safety net" or contingency fund.

Tim Young, cabinet member for housing and community services and ward councillor for St Andrew's, said: "It is important this community centre is built.

"Greenstead Community Association have organised themselves very well. They have put together a very good lottery bid, but you never know what will happen."

Cabinet also agreed to release £131,500 for a new community centre at Maudlyn Road, the Hythe, and £80,000 for the Greenstead Road Community Centre.

By Sarah Oxley

Reporter's e-mail: sarah_oxley@thisisessex.co.uk

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