Banbury welcomes its newest community centre

Cllr David Hughs, chair of CDC cuts the ribbon

Bretch Hill residents celebrated the official opening of their new community centre Monday after a £1 million investment.

Work to construct the new Hill Community and Sports Facility got underway last spring and was completed in the autumn.

A programme of sports and child-friendly activities is already being run there by Banbury Community Church and includes social clubs, art classes and council FAST sessions.

Cllr Andrew McHugh, Cherwell’s lead member for wellbeing, said: “A vibrant and varied programme of sports and community activities is running at the new building

Cllr Andrew McHugh and Andy Couves, Sport England

“I thank local people and the church for their patience and support while this wonderful new building was developed, and I am very pleased that Cherwell has been able to deliver a high quality result for them.”

The design and build of the new centre was supported by a £600,000 investment from Cherwell and £350,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England.

Banbury Charities and Banbury Town Council each invested £10,000 towards the project and housing developers contributed £80,000.

The church kept the young people’s activities running at a shop on the Bradley arcade, while they waited for their new building.

The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Monday, January 27.