newham news
News New centre for community on the way A state-of the-art community neighbourhood centre is being developed in Canning Town that will help residents get more involved in their local area. Newham Council is undertaking a £2 million project to transform an empty building in the newly-regenerated Rathbone Market in Barking Road into a modern centre that can be used by the whole community. It will play host to a range of community initiatives as well as showcasing the wide range of activities and clubs residents can be invovled in. It is part of the council’s drive to bring communities together. The new centre, which is expected to be completed next year, will include spaces available for hire by residents and groups. A kitchen will be available to allow people to cater for parties or events. Canning Town Library, currently opposite the market, will move into the building. As well as books, films and CDs available for loan, people will have access to more than six million titles through the London Library Consortium, which enables libraries from across the Capital to share items. Other facilities at the new centre will include areas for studying and reading, for self-check-in and out of items borrowed, access to computers and free wi-fi, public toilets and baby-changing facilities. There will be screens throughout the centre informing people of the range of
events taking place in the building and local community. Councillor Ken Clark, Cabinet member for building communities, public affairs, regeneration and planning, said: “This centre will help people play full and active roles in the community and local area. It will be a modern venue for people and groups to use and meet. “The building is currently only a shell and extensive work is going on to turn it
into a modern community neighbourhood centre. This is a hugely exciting project and I hope residents will make full use of it when it becomes an integral part of the community.” Last year Newham Council’s community centres hosted more than 6,000 events which had more than 100,000 individual visits. The council is looking at uses for the current Canning Town Library building when the new centre opens.
Cllr Clark outside the centre with Cllr Idris Ibrahim, right, lead member for Custom House and Canning Town community neighbourhood, and Cllr Forhad Hussain, left, Cabinet member for crime and anti-social behaviour and deputy member for building communities
£2 million state-of-the-art centre taking shape 03