A Norfolk village’s long-troubled community centre project has received a “game-changing” lifeline after an anonymous donor contributed £100,000 to ensure its completion.
The “mind-blowing” gift will finally allow Easton Community Centre to be finished following years of financial difficulties that plagued the development.
Easton Parish Council had been grappling with mounting debts after the project’s budget ballooned from an initial £1.5million to more than £3million.
The unexpected donation arrives after considerable efforts to stabilise the council’s precarious financial position.
It has enabled construction work to resume on the facility, which has remained incomplete for an extended period.
The scheme to construct a multi-purpose venue replacing the existing village hall was initially unveiled by the parish council in October 2021.
Designed to house offices, a bar and kitchen, changing rooms, and a main hall capable of hosting activities from badminton and yoga to concerts and cinema screenings, building work commenced in 2023.
However, progress came to an abrupt halt just months later when the principal contractor collapsed into administration.
The project had been funded through a combination of loans, grants from South Norfolk Council, and Community Infrastructure Levy payments from local housing developers, including Persimmon, but costs continued to escalate, leaving the parish council unable to meet its loan repayments.
Mark Caton, who became parish council chairman in the summer of 2024, described the donation as transformative for the struggling project.
“This donation is a game-changer for us. Considering what Easton has been through, this is massively good news,” he said.
The donor, whom Mr Caton described as “very community-spirited,” has connections to the village but has asked to remain unidentified.
‘It is mind-blowing. It’s just not the sort of thing that happens. I’ve never had to cash a cheque for £100,000 before!’
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“They had funds that had become available, and they wanted to see the benefit of that go to the hall to get it finished,” he explained.
Mr Caton admitted the experience had been extraordinary.
“It is mind-blowing. It’s just not the sort of thing that happens. I’ve never had to cash a cheque for £100,000 before!”
With the funding now secured, attention turns to the practical work required to complete the facility.
Mr Caton said electricity must first be connected to the building before contractors can be engaged to carry out the remaining construction tasks.
“If all that goes well, I would hope we can get the centre open at around September time, although we haven’t got a confirmed date yet,” he said.
Looking ahead to the venue’s operations, a charitable trust will be established to manage the community centre once it opens its doors.
Mr Caton has encouraged local residents to volunteer as trust members to help run the facility.