Eco project’s future is secured

The future of a popular eco project has been secured after the council agreed to grant a new 25-year lease.

Bosses at the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (TCV) will vacate the Singleton Environment Centre at the end of March.

Great Chart with Singleton parish council has now been given permission to take over the building, which is in Wesley School Road, off Cuckoo Lane.

Cllr Mike Bennett, Ashford Borough Council portfolio holder for culture, leisure, environment and heritage, said: “Since we received formal notice from the Conservation Volunteers (TCV) that they would be leaving the Singleton Environment Centre by March this year we have been in discussions with various parties over future operating arrangements. We are pleased to be able to work with Great Chart with Singleton parish council to safeguard the centre’s future as a much loved and well-used community resource.”

The parish council will form a trust to run the centre and will receive a £10,000 subsidy from ABC to help take it over.

The centre, which is home to Footprints Cafe and Soothing Pod, cost £1.77m when it was built a decade ago.

Parish clerk Aniko Szocs said: “If the parish council did not act, then the centre could have fallen into other hands and not provide the same service as it does now.

“We are delighted with the council’s decision and looks forward to running the centre which will continue to provide services and activities for the community.

“We are looking to set up a trust to run it and would love to hear from potential trustees. If you would like to be involved, contact the parish clerk on theclerkgcwspc@gmail.com or 01233 6161923.”

Singleton Environment Centre