The keys to a County Durham community centre have been handed over to its residents.

Durham County Council has transferred ownership of Great Lumley Community Centre to the village’s parish council, enabling it to expand the number of activities on offer to residents.

The decision to transfer the centre to the parish council was supported by residents who already attend children’s playgroups and exercise classes at the centre, with the county council providing financial support.

Durham County Council is contributing more than £480,000 from capital funding and Section 106 funding to help meet the costs of the refurbishment and maintenance of the centre, alongside money from Members’ Towns and Villages budgets from Cllr Alan Bell and Cllr Phil Heaviside, who is also the chairman of the parish council.

Neighbourhood Budget funding from Cllrs Bell and Heaviside and former councillor, Audrey Willis, has also been provided.

Meanwhile, Chester-le-Street Area Action Partnership (AAP), one of the council’s 14 AAPs, has provided an additional grant of almost £20,000 towards the funding of a centre manager.

The centre has also successfully applied for £20,950 of funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

With Great Lumley Parish Council also investing a significant amount of funding, the move will see the building and its facilities greatly improved for the benefit of its users.

Transferring ownership will also secure the centre’s financial stability for the future as it will allow the parish council to access grant funding which the local authority cannot apply for.

Cllr Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “We are pleased that the transfer of ownership to Great Lumley Parish Council has been successful. This outcome is thanks to several years’ hard work and a brilliant team effort from both parties and is a great result.

“The centre is already of great value to residents and we know that, with this additional investment, it will continue to provide a well-used facility in the village. Offering a wide range of activities and facilities to residents of all ages will not only help to improve physical health, it will also promote good mental health and wellbeing and help the community to come together, which is a key priority for the council.”

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Cllr Phil Heaviside, chairman of Great Lumley Parish Council, said: “The entire parish council is delighted to have the keys to the centre. It has taken more than ten years to get to this point and we look forward to getting started on our refurbishment plans.

“The centre means a great deal to our community and the refurbishment will allow us to offer a functional gym space and dance studio as well as a café and meeting rooms for groups to use.

"This will ensure it’s at the heart of village life, offering both activities and employment opportunities to residents.”