Commerce Road Community Centre unveiled

Tuesday 15 June 2010

A refurbished community centre at the heart of the Commerce Road estate in Wood Green was officially opened to the general public by Haringey Councillor Leader, Claire Kober, last Friday (11 June). The Centre has received an extensive six month makeover by contractors, Mulalley, as part of Homes for Haringey’s decent homes programme.

Councillor Kober unveiled a specially designed plaque dedicated to the centre in the presence of Homes for Haringey Chief Executive, Paul Bridge, Bruce Benson, Director of Mulalley, Teresa Orosun–Gay, Chair of the Commerce Road Residents Association and invited guests.

Mulalley will use part of the building as their on site office hub whilst carrying out the Decent Homes improvement work in the local area; the adjoining remaining space will be used to host community activities including job advice workshops, exercise classes and Police Safer Neighbourhood surgeries.

Following the unveiling launch, the centre was thrown open to the local community where food and refreshments were provided along with information stalls, arts and craft displays and a consultation board erected for ideas on future use of the centre. Younger residents were treated to goodie bags and an afternoon of face painting, games, and bouncy castle merriment. Suggestions put forward for future use of the club have so far included classes for learning new languages, after school clubs, bingo sessions and music workshops.

Councillor Kober, said the centre would be a huge resource for everyone in the community, adding: “The Decent Homes programme is more than just internal refurbishment works. It is about local communities and bringing people in those communities together. This is a fantastic example of tenant participation, good value and partnership work.”

Paul Bridge, Chief Executive of Homes for Haringey, added, “Everyone benefits from this situation. Mulalley now have a site office at the centre of the community for the duration of the works, and the community have access to a newly refurbished building.”

Bruce Benson, Director of Mulalley, said: “We are very proud of this new Community Centre, the building has been completely refurbished and is indicative of the positive partnership we have built with Homes for Haringey. It will be a long lasting legacy after the decent homes work is finished and we hope it will have much use by the residents who live here.”

Chair of the Commerce Road Residents’ Association, Teresa Orosun-Gay, said: “It is great to see this building up and running and back in community use. It has been an eyesore for far too long. We now have lots of ideas to keep it up and running for years to come.”

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