VILLAGERS have celebrated the ground-breaking ceremony for a new community centre.

Just over £1million has been raised to construct the purpose-designed new Shotton Community Centre and to demolish the old one to make way for extra parking.

There will be no break in activities and services, however, as the existing centre will continue business as usual while building work is on-going.

Owned by Shotton Parish Council, the centre has been leased to Shotton Partnership 2000 Ltd. who will be responsible for the management and day-to-day running of the facility.

The new building will also rehouse the IT Resource Centre, currently situated on Friar Street, in effect creating a Community Hub for the village. This relocation will reduce costs to the partnership and increase services under one roof.

Shotton Parish Council chair Dixon Blakey said: “The parish council has worked hand-in-hand with Shotton Partnership over the past 10 years to enable Shotton Community Centre to be passed from Durham County Council ownership through the Community Asset Transfer Programme.

“It is an exciting time for everyone. Work started on the new building towards the end of June and it is hoped we will be opening the doors of the new centre in the Spring of next year.”

Rona Hardy, Chair of Shotton Partnership, said “We can finally see the fruits of years of working closely with the parish council to bring together facilities and services for the whole community under one roof.

“For this to be happening now is very poignant for us, as Shotton Partnership celebrates its 21st anniversary this year.”

Funders have included The Big Lottery Fund, Section 106 money from new housing development, Shotton Partnership 2000 Ltd, Durham County Council, Shotton Parish Council, The Clothworkers’ Foundation, Ballinger Charitable Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation and cash from the neighbourhood Budgets of county councillors Ivan Cochrane and Eunice Huntington, Sir James Knott Trust and community fundraising events.