Hilldene Community Centre Aims For £150,000 Renewal Fund

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 12th May 2009

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne has given his backing to the appeal to raise £150,000 to renovate the popular Hilldene Community Centre in West End.

Mr Huhne is pictured here with Chair Anne Mortimer and other members of the Management Committee of the community association and other key volunteers.

The launch was also the occasion when its rooms were named after local volunteers who had made a particular contribution to the success of the centre since it was converted from being the local primary school in 1988.

The main hall was named after Ken Morris, while other rooms were named after Don Horne, Wilf Phillips and Ted Topp.

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne said: "This is a well-loved centre for the community in West End, and it urgently needs renovation to go on fulfilling its important role. I wish this appeal every success in quickly reaching its goals".

At the launch of the appeal, Chairman Anne Mortimer said that building work was urgently needed to maintain the local landmark, ensure the safety of the bell-tower, replace the roof, and upgrade and move the kitchen facilities to enable the hall to be used for larger catered events.

The Centre now hosts a thriving variety of community activities from needlework groups through to yoga and the scouts, as well as being used for children's parties and other events. More than 20 groups use the facility.

Quotations for the work done for the Management Committee show that replacing the roof alone will cost £50,000 while window replacements in the same late Victorian style will cost £37,000.