A NEW £345,000 community centre will be unveiled after residents banded together to create a community group.

Vange Community Group, which was founded by a group of Vange residents in 2010, successfully applied for the funding required to demolish and build a new community centre on land at Kent View Road Recreation Ground.

The group has already welcomed the Just Imagine Nursery on a 10-year lease and has plans to use the centre for community activities, including coffee mornings and a children’s dance club.

Chairman Neil Hart said: “When the site was selected for potential development we felt we had to do something. On Basildon Council’s advice we decided to approach funders and draw up a business case.

“The opening of this centre is the culmination of a lot of hard work, which will now benefit the Vange community for years to come.”

The group received £180,000 from Basildon Council’s community investment fund, £125,000 from Veolia, £20,000 from Essex Environmental Trust and £19,500 from the county council’s community investment fund.

The old centre, which was dilapidated and no longer fit for purpose was demolished and replaced with a brand new unit this summer.

Terri Sargent, Basildon councillor responsible for community, said: “This group was formed by a number of concerned residents and is led by Neil Hart. Together they have done something amazing.

“My congratulations go out to them for taking this project as far as it has come.

“This facility is already home to a pre-school and will provide a wider community benefit.”

The new centre will be officially opened by Basildon mayor Mo Larkin at 1pm on Friday.