Maidenhead & Windsor

It's all systems go for the long-awaited new youth and community centre at Woodlands Park near Maidenhead with work expected to start on site in October.

The new Maidenhead single-storey centre will replace the existing inadequate hall which will be demolished to make way for the new amenities.

Facilities at the Maidenhead new centre – which will be four times the size of the existing accommodation -will include:

· a sports hall for badminton, five-a-side football and other activities

· community room for use by local community groups and organisations. This will also be "home" to the new children's centre which will provide a range of support services, activities, information and guidance for local families with young children up to four years old

· IT suite with eight PCs with plans for ongoing IT training courses

· parish office for White Waltham parish council

· interview/meeting room

· male and female showers, changing rooms and disabled toilets

· kitchen for staff use.

Outside the centre will be 28 car parking spaces and four disabled bays, and hard-standing to allow for a possible future additional stop for the borough's mobile library.

Vehicle access to the centre will be from a newly-created road off Waltham Road, about a quarter of a mile from Foliejohn Way. Work on the new road is the first stage of the development and will begin in early October. Access to the new centre for pedestrians and cyclists will be from Foliejohn Way.

Cllr Richard Fagence, lead member for Maidenhead leisure and cultural services, said: "This is great news for Woodlands Park. The new centre will provide a real focus for the community in this area – it will have something for everyone and will help to create a real sense of identity and bring all ages together under one roof. I have no doubt that it will very quickly become a very well-supported feature of life in the area – and that has got to be a good thing."

Cllr Jeremy Hyde, ward councillor and long-time campaigner for a community centre in the area, was delighted with the news. He said: "We have worked with residents and the parish council for many years to improve the existing facilities at Woodlands Park and establish a proper community centre for everyone in the area to use.

"The new centre will provide a perfect meeting place for both young and old alike to meet their friends, as well as opportunities to take part in a range of sports and other activities which have just not been available in this area until now.

"I am absolutely delighted that at long last building is starting on this important project and look forward to seeing the new centre up and running next year."

Pat McDonald, chairman of White Waltham parish council said: "We would like to thank all the staff and officers at the Royal Borough who have worked hard with the parish on this project, and also to wish a very special thank you to Barty Smith and the Smith family for all their generosity in this matter."

David Oram, director of Maidenhead community services, said: "We would also like to extend our thanks to Mr Barty Smith whose Shottesbrooke Charitable trust has generously supported the scheme through the provision of additional land."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead