A COMMUNITY is cashing in on a old bank building by giving it a new role at the heart of a regeneration scheme.

Shop keepers in Willington are concerned because trade has suffered since Barclay's shut their branch in the town under a nationwide campaign of closures earlier this year.

Community partnership leaders have struck a deal to buy the empty premises in High Street.

When the building reopens, it will be as a resource centre with a wide range of functions for all sections of the population.

Money for refurbishment will come through a Government-funded Single Regeneration Budget project currently getting under way in Willington, where the number of empty town centre properties is twice the national average.

Partnership chairman, Councillor Brian Myers, envisages the old bank as a focal point for the town. He predicts it will help revive flagging High Street businesses by boosting confidence and bringing people into the town centre.

He said: "Willington, with its considerable social, economic and environmental problems, needs a vote of confidence and the partnership feels that we will achieve this by providing this multi-functional resource centre, which will be a focal point for community activities, social and personal development and business support.

"Since the bank closed, trade in the west end of the High Street has gone from bad to worse. The number of people going to that part of the town has drastically decreased.

"We need to have an active and involved community as the planning starts for regenerating the High Street under SRB."

Last month, a survey of Willington traders found that business confidence was at an all-time low. As many as two-thirds said they were pessimistic about the town's future and 77 per cent said that confidence in their business had declined over the past five years.