New community centre planned (From Harrow Times)

New community centre planned

9:39am Thursday 20th September 2007 in

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PLANS for a new community centre in North Harrow go on display this weekend.

The Battlers Well foundation, a Muslim charity, is hosting the exhibition at the North Harrow Assembly Halls, which will be demolished and replaced under the plans.

The charity wants to build the new multi-faith community centre on a 0.9 acre stretch of land on Station Road, North Harrow, with facilities including a sports hall and gym, a prayer room, seminar rooms, and a nursery.

Nizar Merali, a trustee of the Battlers Well foundation, said: "Everyone will be welcome at the centre, whatever their race, religion or background and we hope to create a real community atmosphere."

The centre will cost £20 million, and the foundation hopes to raise half the money by renting out state-of-the-art flats which will be part of the community centre.

Mr Merali said: "We have many friends in different communities that share our goals and our visions, and we hope to raise the rest of the money that way."

The North Harrow Assembly Halls have been used by different groups as a community centre since the 1970s, and the Battlers Well foundation wants to replace them with a modern all purpose centre. It auditioned designers for the site, and settled on the design by Mangera Yvars architects, who are based in Barcelona.

The charity hopes to submit a formal planning application to Harrow Council in the autumn this year.

The plans will be displayed at the North Harrow Assembly Halls between 4 and 7pm on Friday, September 21 and between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, September 22. Leaflets have been distributed to residents about the exhibitions, and everyone is welcome to attend.