A COMMUNITY centre at the heart of the east end is to benefit from a multi-million pound replacement.

Craigend Community Centre will be knocked down and rebuilt with the help from lottery funding.

The Big Lottery has already invested £40,000 in planning the project, with a design team and business manager being put in place.

Planners and architects met with residents and initial drawings were put on display for consultation last year.

Brian Power, co-ordinator of the centre, said: “They have taken people’s comments on board and have come back with revised plans.

“Basically people have come back and said they want more of the same and to extend what we have already got.”

The management committee have been campaigning for years to get the centre extended and they applied for funding.

Big Lottery officials came back and said that because the building is 22 years old, if they were going to invest in the project then it would need to come down.

Brian said: “We want to develop, expand the laundry and cafe, make the centre more accessible, have bigger rooms and start employability projects.

“As part of the funding process people need to be consulted and be seen to be happy with it

“We want bigger classes, to promote healthy lifestyles and bring holiday playschemes into the centre instead of using schools.

“It will also help us to generate income through our cafe, salad bar and laundry.

“But we also want to keep the centre’s community spirit and friendliness — we don’t want to lose touch with who we are.”

The updated Craigend plans will be on display on January 24 between 1 and 3pm.