If successful the £1 million bid will create a modern base for Ashfield Community Radio and Media Training and local community groups.

Earlier this year Ashfield District Council and partner community groups were chosen to take part in a Government demonstration programme supporting the transfer of public assets to community organisations.  Together with twenty other pilot schemes from across the country Ashfield District Council will receive consultancy support for two projects, one being the redevelopment of Acacia Avenue Community Centre.

The council is working in partnership with Ashfield Community Radio and Media Training (ACRMT) who have expressed interest in taking over the management of the centre and developing community activities alongside their existing training facility.

Acacia Avenue Community Centre requires significant investment to bring it up to modern standards and a development group including ACRMT, community representatives and user groups have been working for the last few years to look at ways to achieve this. Community consultations and surveys have taken place to identify community and user needs and keep people informed.

Head of Community and Economic Promotion at Ashfield District Council, Andrew Smith commented,

"This is a very exciting pilot project for the Council and, should we be successful with the funding bid, will provide a much needed new central community space that local people can be proud of. Importantly ‘The Studio’, as we are calling it, would be run and managed by community organisations for the benefit of the local community, offering training and skills opportunities, modern meeting space and potentially a local contact centre for public sector services at the community level."

The opportunity has arisen for local authorities to bid for government funding for building improvements through the Community Asset Fund being administered by Big Lottery. The Council submitted a funding application for £994,450 this week prior to the close of the fund on 15th November. Decisions will be announced at the end of March 2008.

If successful the proposed refurbishment and extension of the community centre would be likely to commence in Autumn 2008, with an anticipated opening date of Autumn 2009.

Below: Harry Sharpe, of ACRMT, with Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council
and Georgina Streets, Community Development Officer.