Public asked what they want from new community centre

Plans are moving forward to create a community hub for Spalding which will cater for a wide range of different uses.

Project St Thomas has the long-term aim of providing a centre for all members of the community.

This week sees a consultation exercise to identify key areas for potential future uses.

The chapel on St Thomas’s Road will also be open for people to have a closer look.

The project team will be available for a chat Today (Thursday) from 12pm-2pm; Saturday, October 8 from 1.30pm-3.30pm and Thursday, October 13 from 3pm-5pm at the chapel.

The Immaculate Conception and St Norbert’s Church in Spalding has been able to buy the former chapel.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded a bid and has commissioned a company to undertake public engagement.

The survey is available online via the Project St Thomas page on Facebook or via the website www.sortified.com/projectstthomas

The project organisers also want to hear any stories about the building, or similar buildings which have helped your community.

Any stories can be sent by email to info@sortified.com

The stories will be used to build a complete picture of life in the local community.

The survey poses a range of questions, from identifying services missing from the town to suggesting uses for the building.

Among the list of proposed uses, the survey suggests the building could become a cafe, creative space, a venue for employment and skills support or a repair shop.

There is the chance to choose up to five of the options on offer.

Project St Thomas is the biggest project currently under way in the Roman Catholic Diocese.

Fr Jim Burke said he was passionate about ensuring the new centre would be for all the community to benefit.

Initially the building was likely to be used as a nursery, but the size of the old chapel means it could have a range of uses.

The town’s Catholic church was able to buy the former Methodist chapel next door thanks to a generous gift.

Parishioner, retired bulb trader and nursery owner Peter Borst came to Spalding from The Netherlands in 1951. He and his wife Janet donated £300,000 to buy the building.