THE team that runs Wickford Community Centre is ready to move to its new facility once plans are fully in place.

Plans to create a brand new centre at the Nevendon Road Recreation Grounds are still in preparation, and after a lot of debate, the centre’s association are happy to vacate their longstanding site. Peter Holliman, councillor for Wickford North gave an update on the future move to Nevendon Road.

He said: “The centre was told it could be knocked down and rebuilt in the same place or they could have a purposebuilt state-of-the-art one at the other end of the high street, I understand they were all in favour. Elderly residents have struggled to get to Runwell Road by public transport, people complain they cannot get there for blood tests. There is a chance the service could get moved into the new centre.”

The current centre, although it is run by the Wickford Community Association, is owned by London and Cambridge Properties, owners of the Willows Shopping Centre, who budgeted £1.5million for the development of the new Nevendon Road site. While considering the development, the firm proposed to rebuild the library, next to the Willows.

In February 2017, the firm proposed to use the current centre site for new shops and flats. The council agreed to put forward £300,000 to make the works more affordable.

However, the community association are happy to move, Conservative councillor, Mr Holliman says there could still be a chance the council could change the decision.

He added: “Although we won the election in terms of majority last week, the current administration is still in effect responsible for what is happening.”

A Basildon Council spokesman, said: “The new Community Centre will be leased to the Wickford Community Association and it will be a matter for the Association to hire the various spaces within the new building to local groups and for local activities.

“The Association has a very wide and varied programme of users at present, and it is hoped that even more activities can be accommodated in the new building for the benefit of their members and all local residents.

“Planning will be submitted later this month with an opening expected in the Summer of 2019.

“The council will work with the NHS and CCG to identify opportunities to provide blood testing facilities in Wickford.”