The ribbon was cut to officially open Minehead’s £1.3 million new community centre on Friday (August 20) – and already the multi-functional facility’s future is looking rosy.

At the opening ceremony, performed by Minehead Mayor Cllr Paul Bolton, project manager Colin Johnson said ‘this fantastic building’ was proving to be the envy of other communities.

“It may be the way forward for community buildings. It’s being used seven days a week by lots of people,” he added.

Home to Minehead Football Club, and the meeting place for the town council, the centre on Irnham Road recreation ground, is also well used by local organisations, many of which were represented at Friday’s ceremony.

The ground, which has just won a field of the year award from Somerset Playing Fields Association, has facilities including an adult gym with ten sets of state-of-the-art equipment, floodlit MUGA, tennis courts, basketball and a 200m running track: “A lot of people who had never run before came here and now they are running 5ks,” said Mr Johnson.

“The track has been quite a nice addition to turn the whole site into a focus for outdoor recreation.”

The main hall has a sprung floor – much appreciated by the old time dancing group – excellent acoustics and all the latest technology such as a built-in ceiling projector, hearing loop and wireless/bluetooth links.

“It has a full programme of users – five exercise classes, dancing groups, the stroke club, a men’s mental health group, mothers and babies...,” said Mr Johnson.

The new centre replaces outdated buildings and spectator accommodation, and Mr Johnson said the impact on Minehead Football Club – ‘one of the biggest in the county’ – was considerable: “When you saw the state of the old building, you realised the club could fold.”

But now, he said: “We’re breaking even and are probably looking at a small profit which we will put into the facilities.”

Developed by Minehead Town Council, designed by Louise Crossman Architects and built by local company QUBE, the germ of the idea goes back to a public consultation in 2000. But it was another 15 years before the ball started rolling. Mr Johnson was asked to meet Mark Vickers, of the football club, and the town council and it was decided, in principle, that the council should own the club’s building.

Applications for funding were successful and Mr Johnson said one particular grant, for £400,00, ‘kickstarted the process’.

Louise Crossman was approached with their vision, which she turned into reality, and apart from ‘a dark time in March’ when the pandemic interrupted, everything fell into place.

PHOTOS: George Ody