News

Recent Events

NEW SPORTS PITCH AND CHANGING ROOMS OPENED

Following damage caused by the floods in the summer of 2007 the centre's main hall has undergone improvements . There is a new wooden floor with badminton court markings and space for functions attracting up to 120 people. On Saturday 24th November 2007 the revamped centre with a new sports facility was officially opened by Parmjit Dhanda MP and Andrew Gravells, Abbey Ward Councillor.

The new facility includes a third generation artificial pitch with floodlights plus changing rooms for teams, referees and disabled players. This was achieved via a grant from the Football Foundation and financial support from Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucester City Council. Abbeydale Community Association and Abbeymead Rovers FC also made significant financial contributions to enable the work to proceed.

The main hall now has access to the changing rooms for a range of indoor sports.

Mike Teesdale, Chairman of the Association said "Since opening in 1984 the community centre has successfully served many sections of the community. This reopening heralds a fundamental change in the centre's support for the community. We shall be a hub for a far wider range of groups and clubs especially local young people."

Sports Centre opens

Parmjit Dhanda MP and Andrew Gravells Abbey Ward Councillor opening the new pitch

At the opening Coun Andrew Gravells said "Sporting facilities in Abbeydale are now up there with the best that Gloucester has to offer and it's good to see what can be achieved when local people all work together this way. I wish we'd had facilities like this when I was a kid."

Upcoming events

NEW YOUTH/ART ROOM EXTENSION TO BE BUILT IN 2010 - Revised Temporary Access Arrangements During Building Works

The Association has been awarded a grant of £100,000 from Gloucester City Council to extend the building for youth related activities. We will be adding some resources from the Abbeydale Community Association funds to allow construction of the long awaited kitchen too. Construction is now planned to commence on 22nd March for completion in August 2010.

This will mean changes in the way the building is accessed as the front door won’t be in use from this date. Temporary access points to the meeting rooms are as follows:

Main Hall - along the footpath on the left hand side of the building between Morrison’s and the Centre gravel car park then across a temporary walkway to the Hall fire door.

Lounge - along the footpath on the right hand side of the building then through the Lounge fire door.

Lindsey Room - use the Lounge fire door as above then through the interconnecting door to the Lindsey Room.

Resource Room and Committee Room - use the Lounge fire door as above then through the internal Lounge doors into the main corridor.

The ATP sports facility, toilets and car park will be fully accessible during the building work. As work progresses other areas of the building will be affected and this may change entry and exit arrangements. We will give regular updates by newsletter on the notice boards and on this website. We will endeavour to keep disruption for Centre users to a minimum and trust you’ll agree the final result of an updated, bigger and better community facility will be worth the temporary inconvenience.

Andy Tickner

Chairman 4.3.10