Community centre's £15k boost

Plans for a new community centre in Staffordshire have been given a major cash injection after a £15,000 gift by a neighbouring company.

Waste management firm Augean Ltd, which has premises in Walkmill Lane, Bridgtown, has come forward to help get the facility, on Orbital Plaza, ready for business.

The company, which was started in 2004, has now agreed to give £5,000 over three years towards the upkeep and general running of the new building.

The cash will be used to help provide equipment like a fridge, cooker, cutlery and chairs and tables.

The new community centre has been provided by local developer and multi-millionaire Fred Pritchard, who has matched Augean's £5,000 offer and donated the building itself to Bridgtown parish council.

Mr Pritchard is renting the property to the council at a peppercorn rent of just £1 a year.

Now councillors have set up a steering committee made up of trustees which has just been granted charity status.

A lease for the community centre could be signed within weeks meaning the centre could be open for use by August.

Gene Wilson, group technical director for Augean, said: "As a waste management company we are in a business where we can be seen as bad neighbours but we try to tackle that as best we can.

"As a company we take our corporate and social responsibility very seriously and we were pleased to help out."

Councillor Eddie Smith, chairman of Bridgtown Parish Council and trustee for the community centre, said: "Bridgtown is only a small parish and we felt it was unfair to go back to the ratepayers to raise cash for the centre.

"It's very exciting for Bridgtown and this facility is needed and will be a great boost to the community."