The Magpie Tavern, Chatham

Work on a long-awaited community centre at a former pub in Chatham is to start this week after project managers have raised enough money for a new roof.

Staff at the neighbouring All Saints’ Community Project are planning to turn what was the Magpie Tavern into a venue for organisations and groups to hold activities and events and a cafe.

They are celebrating getting a £25,429 grant for new windows and central heating boiler for the building in Magpie Hall Road.

It is hoped that the centre will be open for business by the end of next spring and will be an extension of the award-winning work they already do for residents living in the central Chatham area.

They acquired the pub last March and have received funding and support from organisations including the Diocese of Rochester.

The latest windfall comes from the SITA Trust, which supports community and environmental projects through the Landfill Community Fund.

Linda Fiddyment from the neighbouring community project, based in All Saints’ Church said: “The support from SITA will enable us to commence work on the refurbishment of the inside of the centre and has already helped to secure funding from other organisations to undertake work on the exterior of the building.

"We are now looking forward to extending our work in the local community thanks to this new centre.”

Jools Granville of SITA Trust said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this grant to help provide new community facilities in this unused former pub.

"We hope that the people of Chatham and the surrounding area will be able to access the new facility soon and that they enjoy it for years to come.”