Volunteers predict bright future for former Telford youth club
Volunteers looking to redevelop a historic building today thanked everyone who has helped to get the project of the ground – and predicted a bright future for 2016.
The Gower Heritage and Enterprise Group finished its year on a high after being given a Heritage Lottery grant of £9,800 at the start of December.
Robert Grice, chairman of the group, said plans to refurbish the former Gower Street Youth Club in Telford and return it to public use were on track.
He said: "I would like to say a big thank you to all the helpers, volunteers, stakeholders, management committee and their families for the great support shown since the Gower project started. A lot of hard work and effort has been put into the Gower in 2015, with clean-up days inside and out, open days and information days.
"We have also started work on the community garden and a heritage project covering the building's history and the people who used it, getting their memories of this.
"Throughout the year we have organised very successful events which were well-attended, one event even ended with a Spitfire fly-past.
"The new year looks very positive. We have further bids in the pipeline for funding, further work being carried out on the building and are now working on the 2016 events calendar – so watch this space."
The building closed 10 years ago after it was found to contain asbestos.
It was due to be demolished to make way for houses, but a campaign by the Gower Street Heritage and Enterprise group saw it granted a reprieve. Now the group is determined to return the building to the community, potentially building a café inside and turning it into a centre for local history.
