Former doctors’ surgery will be youth centre

DOORS SET TO REOPEN IN OCTOBER AFTER FACELIFT

CAMPAIGNERS hope to reopen a former GP surgery as a youth centre in October.

Netherfield Forum raised £45,000 for a deposit to pay for Netherfield’s old GP practice in Forester Street. Refurbishment work is under way. Forum trustee and treasurer Tina Simpson said: “Having a new building will open up bigger and better opportunities.

“People will want to come and use it.” The charity owns the St George’s Centre, a community centre in Victoria Road, and rents the Loco Centre – also in Victoria Road – from the Methodist Church.

The plan is to hand back the Loco Centre, a facility for young people, by the end of the year, following the opening of the new youth centre.

Mrs Simpson, 66, said: “It’s at the back of St George’s Community Centre, we do not have to walk 240 metres down the road which makes it easier for a small team to manage.

“It’s a newer building, the Methodist Church is old, it needs lots of work doing to it which we have repaired as we have gone along.

“While it’s been a fantastic resource for the community, it’s time to move on and have a new one.”

The mortgage repayments for the new centre are less than the rent on the Loco site.

Mrs Simpson added: “Because we were paying more for the rent than what we are paying for the mortgage – it’s a no-brainer.”

With the ownership of two buildings, she said the group can “support people who want to set up activities for young people”.

“We do not have to charge extortionate rents really which I think speaks for itself,” she said.

She spoke of the importance of young people having somewhere to go to meet friends and socialise in a safe environment.

“They know that it’s a purpose-built building for them, it will enhance development, growth and, basically, it’s a place to meet new friends outside of school.”

Various activities which take place at the Loco Centre – voice coaching and dance sessions among them – will move to the new location.

The refurbishment is being done in three phases and the amount of help received has been described as “phenomenal”.

Plans have been submitted to Gedling Borough Council to change the use of the building.

The forum bought the old surgery from Assura, the company which has opened a new medical practice at the former Ashwell Street School site in Meadow Road.

Up to £10,000 was bequeathed to the forum by trustee Barrie Waite when he died. The rest was raised by the committee.

Assura senior development manager Andrew Cooper said: “We are proud to play our part in the fantastic work going on in Netherfield.

“The completion of a new state of the art medical centre has given primary care in the area a massive boost and created a unique opportunity for us to support the Netherfield Forum and their ambitious expansion into the former surgery.

“This will be a wonderful project and the new space will help a lot of young people in the community. We can’t think of a better way for this community building to get its new lease of life.”

We were paying more for the rent than what we are paying for the mortgage – it’s a no-brainer Tina Simpson

MARIE WILSON Netherfield Forum’s Ignatious Mistretta, Ann Bird, Tina Simpson, Lorraine Lee and Chris Birch outside the old surgery

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