Having unanimously supported a bid for a £5000 grant earlier this year, Edenbridge Town councillors are happy to see that users of the Paulinus Centre in Marlpit Hill are now benefitting from a new floor. Edenbridge Town Council Chairman Cllr Bob Todd and Vice-Chair Cllr Angela Baker attended an open morning on 27 October, along with other funders, to view the new flooring, updated heating and paintwork.
John Nutting, chair of St Paulinus management committee said: “It was clear a couple of years ago that the condition of the hall’s floor, vital to the dance school, was deteriorating due to wet rot and that temporary corrective action couldn’t continue indefinitely. It was decided by the committee in 2022 that the only way forward to secure the future of the hall was to completely replace the floor structure.”
Chairman Cllr Bob Todd, said: “St Paulinus Centre is a well-used community facility, and we hope that everyone will enjoy the improved space.”
The centre has been providing services to the local community for many years, and currently hosts the St Paulinus Pre-School, the Cora Art Theatre dance school and pilates sessions. In the past the hall has been used for mother-and-baby groups, judo classes, art classes, a philately group along with quiz nights and fund-raising activities. It has been a venue for pre-school children for about 40 years.
“With increased local development we are sure that demand on this facility will grow even further, so we were pleased we could provide this funding through monies we’ve received from developers via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL),” added Cllr Todd. “I would encourage community groups to consider applying for CIL funding when we announce that applications are open throughout the year, so that they too might benefit from such improvements.”
View full details about CIL funding and eligibility criteria
