VILLAGERS in Charlwood will soon have a new sports and community centre as a fundraising campaign by the parish council nears its conclusion.
The centre, which will include changing rooms for home and away sides as well as space for officials, will replace Charlwood Pavilion on the village's recreation ground near The Street.
Since 2012, Charlwood Parish Council has managed to raise £471,000 of its £490,000 target, thanks to a combination of grants and support from villagers.
The council is planning to start demolition work on the existing pavilion in May, with building commencing in June. Organisers hope the project will be completed, and the centre open, by October.
Penny Shoubridge, who has been organising community funding for the project, said: "We have just had incredible community support for the local hall. We have raised over £20,000, which is amazing for a village of this size.
"The parish council is so pleased that this is actually happening now. I know the sports clubs are all very excited at the moment."
The project has been in the works since 2008, with planning permission initially granted by Mole Valley District Council in 2011. This then expired and was re-granted last month.
The finished centre will have disabled facilities, new toilets and a community room, where supporters can watch matches in the warm and which villagers can hire out for events.
Martin Needham, the council's chairman and the project's leader, told the Mirror: "We initially started out to see if we could renovate the existing pavilion but it soon became obvious that was not the way to go forward. It doesn't meet any of the requirements for anything. It was put up 50 years ago."
As it stands, the project has been awarded grants including £39,800 from the London Marathon Charitable Trust and £50,000 from Sports England. The John Bristow and Thomas Mason Trust has also pledged up to £150,000.
The council has also put more than £100,000 of its own money into the project.
Mr Needham added: "I was hoping to get there a little bit earlier initially but it became obvious it was going to take a long time. In the last six months things have moved very quickly.
"Getting funding from grants is difficult, you start out with everyone saying, 'Maybe next year', but when you are getting well past the halfway point people dip into their pockets a bit more."
The council is still appealing for funds to raise the remaining £19,000.
To donate, contact the council's clerk by e-mailing charlwoodpc@btconnect.com
