A COMMUNITY centre which welcomes more than 600 residents of all ages each week has secured £46,000 to build an extension.

The funding will pay for new male and female changing rooms at Woodham Community Centre in Newton Aycliffe, as well as a much-needed storage room.

Planning permission for the project was secured last month and work is expected to begin this spring and last for six to eight weeks.

Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (Gamp) donated £20,000 towards the work, Woodham Village Community Association raised £4,000 and the remainder of the funding came from the neighbourhood budgets of county councillors John Clare, Mike Dixon and Joan Gray.

David Sutton-Lloyd, treasurer of Woodham Village Community Association, said it would make a big difference to centre users.

“We run a lot of different activities here but have very little storage space,” he said. “At the moment the tables, chairs and crash mats take up all the room. Our mother and toddler groups have to transport car loads of toys here each week as there is no space to store anything.

“The changing rooms will also be a fantastic addition. The centre is used for badminton and other keep fit classes but there has never been anywhere for people to get changed.”

The extension is the latest in a series of improvements carried out at the popular community building, which was built in 1985.

Over the last six years, the association has spent £120,000 bringing the centre up-to-date.

As well as fitting a sprung dance floor in the main hall, new toilets have been installed, the kitchen replaced, the heating system upgraded, foyer redecorated and solar panels attached to the roof.

The meeting room has also been modernised and IT equipment and overhead projectors have been bought for the computer suite.

The association raised half of the cash itself, with Durham County Council and Gamp covering the remaining costs.

Brian Riley, Gamp coordinator, said: “Supporting the town’s voluntary organisations is a priority for Gamp.

“Assisting Woodham Community Centre has allowed the volunteers there to progress their plans and create a safe and welcoming environment for local residents.”

Mr Sutton-Lloyd added: “The committee have worked hard over the years to provide a modern centre for our community. This latest funding will allow us to improve the centre even further and meet the needs of local groups and residents. It is also hoped that the improved facilities will encourage groups to remain at our centre instead of moving to venues outside of the area.”