RESIDENTS can have their say on the future of their community centre over coming weeks.

Volunteers saved Framwellgate Moor Community Centre from the threat of closure and took over running the facility, on Front Street, Framwellgate Moor, Durham City, from Durham County Council earlier this year.

They have secured £285,000-worth of investment for repairs and improvements – work that is already underway.

Consultation has now begun on how to improve the Victorian centre and several public events are planned at which plans will be on display.

The events will be held at Durham Town Hall on Thursday (October 16) from 10am to 1pm, Sainsbury’s Framwellgate Moor and the Co-op in Newton Hall on Friday and Saturday and Sainsbury’s at the Arnison Centre on Friday, October 24.

Community association chairman Colin Hillary said he hoped to more than double the current visitor numbers of 32,000 a year.

“We need to know from the residents and businesses across ‘DH1 5’, in the Framwellgate Moor, Newton Hall and Durham areas, what will work for them, for their families and their future.

“The plans we are proposing are aimed at delivering activities relating to health, leisure, education, and social inclusion including a public internet cafe, aerobic rooms, teaching rooms, two main halls and playground areas.

“A business centre with meeting rooms and facilities will help to keep the centre financially viable.

“Our future generations deserve to have this facility, to feel a sense of community.

“It’s an exciting part of the journey for us and we’d love the whole community to be involved.”

Consultation runs until January. To find out more, search for Framwellgate Moor Community Centre on Facebook.