Gosport trust gets £146,000 to kick-start centre project

Rowner Community Trust in Gosport was given £141,000 from Hampshire County Council and £5,000 from Gosport council to start work on the Nimrod Centre.

Plans have been approved for the community hub to be refurbished and changed, improving it for the clubs and organisations based there.

And thanks to the grant, work can start.

Iain Lucas, chief officer of the trust, said: ‘Finding out we had the money was fantastic.

‘It is great to get resources into the community and for us to be able to move forward.

‘It is the beginning of a long line of investment for the community hub.’

Work on the Nimrod Centre, off Falcon Meadows Way, includes moving the entrance to improve accessibility from the main road and car park, modernising the building and planting tress and flowers to brighten up the area.

Iain added: ‘The money from the councils is a huge amount to help us get started.

‘We are still fundraising though as we need more to update the building, which was built in 1997.

‘As part of that the entrance will be moved. It will work better with the new road being built and will link with the car park. Being seen from the road will raise the profile of the centre.’

Councillor Graham Burgess, who sits on both councils, welcomed the funding. He said changes to the centre would help with improving the image of Rowner.

‘People were doubtful that Rowner would ever change,’ Cllr Burgess said.

‘But we are now in the final stages of the Rowner Regeneration, there are new businesses here so the area has completely changed.

‘It is a nice place to live and the trust getting this money is the next step.

‘I am really happy for them and the changes they are making will make the Nimrod Centre more of a community hub.’