Supporters of the Bullingdon Community Centre in Headington say they are pleased that a revamp is to go ahead after being postponed.

The rebuild was put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Supporters of the centre in Peat Moors were disappointed in the summer when the scheme was paused.

Read again: Community centre funding is paused

Now campaigner Shirley Nelder of Dene Road has written to the Oxford Mail to say she is pleased that money will be made available for the scheme in the city council's budget for 2021/2022.

She said: "Supporters of the Bullingdon Community Centre have been on tenterhooks anticipating the council’s decision on whether, in these difficult times, they should or could go ahead with the planned rebuild of the community centre. 

Read again: Will our readers be sad to see Debenhams go?

"The community centre is literally being stabilised with props which are regularly checked but it would only be a matter of time before even the props would not be able to stop the inevitable collapse.  So the choice for us was stark."

She added: "A lot of people worked hard to get this project to where it is today, there were a lot of challenges and disappointments. 

"I am so pleased that it has all paid off and that the council has agreed that the 21/22 budget will include the rebuild. 

Read again: Japanese eatery announces date for reopening

"I would like to sincerely thank all the supporters of this project from the groups who use the centre, local councillors and the wider network of supporters but mainly those hard working committee members who have selflessly pushed, shoved - whatever it took - to make theirs and our dream of a new, purpose built community centre that one step closer."

The city council today confirmed the funding would be allocated.

The council's budget paper is recommending to cabinet that the council un-pauses the £1.3m allocation made in last year’s budget to enable to the centre’s redevelopment to go ahead.

Funding for a multi-million pound revamp of East Oxford Community Centre is also recommended for approval.

thisisoxfordshire:

City councillor Marie Tidball

Marie Tidball, Cabinet Member for Supporting Local Communities, said: "Investing in community facilities and infrastructure has a hugely beneficial impact on the health and wellbeing of communities and the life opportunities of individuals, which is why we have committed to making these key projects happen.

"Especially as our community centres have played such an important role in the Council’s frontline response to the coronavirus crisis."