Be there at the Square! Great place for Meir community opens
29 May 2009
A PAIR of ordinary semi-detached houses have been transformed by Great Places Housing Group and RENEW North Staffordshire into a fantastic new community resource centre for the people of Meir, Stoke.
The local authority homes have been opened up with the use of a new internal steel structure to provide large meeting spaces, kitchen and offices.
Great Places worked with funding from RENEW North Staffordshire to create the facility at The Square in the heart of the Meir neighbourhood.
It will be officially opened at a big party from 11am to 3pm on Friday May 29th with Stoke City soccer legend Denis Smith and Stoke MP Rob Flello.
Guy Cresswell, director of housing at Great Places, said: “We can’t wait to unveil the community centre – the houses have been totally transformed into a really impressive space.
“We’ve be working with a committed group of local people who have formed a community committee to run the centre, and steer what it will be used for. We hope it will be a place that’ll offer something for everyone.”
Coffee mornings, film shows, arts and craft sessions, adult learning courses, health advice and employment skills training could all soon be taking place.
Cllr Adrian Knapper, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's portfolio holder for regeneration and economic development, said: "We have had overwhelming public support for our regeneration plans for Meir and it's great news that this fantastic community facility is now open - it underlines our commitment to creating a positive, sustainable future for the area.
"It was only just over a year ago that Meir residents requested a community facility – a space they could call their own - and both RENEW North Staffordshire and Great Places recognised the need. The result of many months of planning with local residents and service providers is this truly flexible space for meetings and activities that will really help bring the community together during a time when changes are taking place in the area."
Great Places will continue to work with local people to establish the community committee and will cover its first year’s running costs.
Great Places and RENEW North Staffordshire will also jointly fund a new community link officer to support local people for the next two years.
Great Places, its sales arm Plumlife and organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureau and the North Staffordshire Police will also use the centre for meetings and office space.
RENEW North Staffordshire and Great Places are working on many improvements to the Meir area that have so far included gating alleys to provide private, community spaces and knocking down the disused Thorley pub.
Building work has begun on the first homes for sale in the area. Great Places will refurbish and upgrade a total of 20 three-bedroom family homes on Woodville Road over the next two years.
Planning permission has also been granted for a further 46 new homes on Lyme Road. Homes will be available for shared ownership at affordable prices through Great Places’ sales arm Plumlife.
A long-term plan called the area regeneration framework is being put together with the aim of creating better housing and amenities, more choice of places to live for rent and to buy, and brilliant open spaces that families will love to spend time in.
