Angmering villagers warm to new eco-friendly community centre

Trustees were delighted with the numbers turning up to look round the 900,000-plus facility, and with the positive feedback.

The centre also had its first hiring on Saturday night, a sequence dance session, and this week regular activities, including pilates, short mat bowls and fitness classes have been starting up, while the first private function, an 80th birthday party, has been booked.

Many of the visitors to the open days signed up for activities with representatives of the groups running them, who set up stalls in the main hall.

The newly-formed Angmering Short Mat Bowls Club, which already has more than 40 members, had one of its mats rolled out for would-be bowlers to try their arm.

Flagship for energy-saving

There was much interest, too, in the centre's energy-saving measures, which will make it a flagship low-carbon public building. A digital read-out near the entrance shows how much electricity is being generated by solar panels on the roof, and the technically-minded could have a look at the pump equipment for the ground source heating system.

Within a month the centre will be able to sell its surplus energy back to the national grid, helping to cut running costs even more.

Val Jerram, chairman of the trustees, said the heating system was already proving its worth, and when the weather turned chilly on Saturday night, it was so efficient that the sequence dancing group had to open windows to cool down a little.

Activities for all

An exhibition of artwork by Angmering School students drew many admiring comments and will remain on view for a few more days. Val hopes other artists and groups will take the opportunity to display their work at the centre, too.

Volunteers and trustees served refreshments to visitors and if more volunteers come forward, a cafe will be opened.

Although many activities are now booked into the centre, and others are in the pipeline, including adult education classes and Citizens' Advice Bureau sessions, there are still some daytime slots available and Wednesday evenings are also free.

For more information on the centre, visit the website www.angmeringcommunitycentre.org.uk or telephone 01903 773982.

-----------------------------

Click here to return toLittlehampton Gazette news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Gazette's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Gazette: [email protected]

Want to read this page in French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Urdu or 48 other languages? click here for Google translate.