It’s been a long time coming, but work has finally started on The Meads Community Centre.

To mark the milestone, trustees of the centre were joined by councillors and officers from Swale council to turn the first turf for the project last Friday.

Planning permission to develop it on land next to Emerald Crescent/Quartz Way was granted in March, and BMR Construction Ltd were appointed earlier last month.

The budget to build is £450,000 with funds coming from Redrow Homes and Baradon Properties. The firms agreed to fund community projects under section 106 agreements signed with the authority as part of the planning permission process to develop properties in the area.

It will include a community café, a hall for hire, lockable storage and parking plus space for a potential nursery. This will become operational if a local provider and further money becomes available.

A toilet, kitchen and landscaping are also included in the proposal.

Once built, it will transfer to the Meads Community Centre Trust, a registered charity, to operate and maintain.

Volunteers are needed to raise money to pay for internal furnishings.

Keely Magee, chair of the trust which was formed by residents three years ago, said: “We are so pleased to finally see the work getting underway.

“This will be a real asset for the whole community, and we can’t wait to see how residents will take the building to their heart and shape its future use.

“The funding granted to date is only sufficient for the building itself. This means our budget falls short of many essential fixtures and fittings. We are urgently seeking additional funding and local people who can offer their time and skills.”

Cllr Samuel Koffie-Williams (Con), deputy cabinet member for localism, said: “It’s great to see how this scheme has taken shape, and really been driven by the community.

“This bodes well for the future, as the trustees have been determined from the start that the centre must be a genuine asset for the community if it is to succeed.

“Thanks to all their hard work, I am convinced it will.”

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to email themeadscommunitycentretrust@rocketmail.com