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“Babergh has publicly pledged to try and get Hadleigh the community facilities it deserves. I’m delighted to say that we are now about to deliver on that promise!”
Cllr. Nick Ridley, Chairman of Babergh’s Strategy Committee was speaking after councillors gave the thumbs up today (18th September) to spend £2m in building a brand new community building linked to the existing Hadleigh swimming pool.
The facility is designed to appeal to as wide range of users as possible and will include a dance studio, a fitness studio, a community area (including a stage) and a social area for more casual uses.
If the resulting planning application is approved by Babergh’s Development Committee, the £2m project – the biggest non-housing scheme undertaken by the Council for many years – could open as early as the winter of 2009.
“We have already widely consulted with local people to ensure the building can offer something for virtually everyone. This ‘green light’ now means the project can speed forward to finding someone to build and run the facility. If everything goes according to plan, local people could well start seeing the foundations being dug soon after the New Year” explained Cllr. Ridley.
Cllr Ridley added that Babergh was still hopeful that the Council’s partners in the town would be prepared to make contributions – including financial ones – in support of the facility.
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