PLANS for a new Bungay Community Centre to replace the outdated building in Upper Olland Street are at a crucial stage and an appeal is out for new members to serve on the management committee.

With the help of a �75,000 grant, a series of workshops is being held with the aim of providing a new feasibility study for a new centre.

New people with fresh ideas and fresh energy are being sought to help take forward what some see as the last chance to win a new centre for the town capable of hosting functions for up to 200 people.

David Wuyts, who has been chairman of the committee for many years, said: “The Bungay new community centre scheme is at a crucial stage of negotiations and we are in need of new blood. We need people willing to give time to the project.

“Those thinking of retirement would be ideal business people to join the committee – we need to get a few new people on board. At least two of us, Ray Baker and myself, are into our eighties, and with the scheme moving forward it is important to get people in.”

The new community centre working party is working with Coin Community Build and three workshops have been held so far, with the fourth due shortly. The hope is that it will lead to a new plan being drawn up, costed and an application submitted for planning permission.

The last plan put forward was costed at nearly �4m, and to stand a chance of becoming reality that figure needs to be trimmed to �2m.

If a new plan is agreed and approved, the centre would be built at the old grammar school field in St John’s Road, where a new play area is also envisaged in a separate scheme.

Mr Wuyts said he would be willing to meet those who would like to know more about the project and what was involved – he can be contacted on 01986 896778.