Work on new Templehall Community Hub set to begin

(Press release Fife Council:) It’s an exciting time in Kirkcaldy as building work is about to start on the new £15 million Templehall Community Hub.

Local residents are this week being alerted to the fact that there will be some disruption in nearby areas, as work begins. Preparatory ground work for the drainage connection to the new Templehall Community Hub is set to begin in Appin Crescent next week, on Monday 23 September. This is phase one of the work which will be carried out in five phases between now and December.

To give the community a chance to get more information, ask questions or raise any particular concerns a drop-in event is being held at the current Templehall Community Centre on Thursday 19 September between 6 and 7.30pm. All are welcome to pop along, see the plans, and speak to officers and contractors.

Kirkcaldy Area Convenor, Cllr Ian Cameron, is encouraging local residents and the wider community to come along to the drop-in event to hear more about what’s happening.

He said: ‘The new Templehall Community Hub will be a fantastic resource for the whole community. A brand new, modern, purpose built facility, replacing a cluster of ageing, poor quality facilities in the area. The hub will contain a library, training kitchen, community meeting area, computer room, local office facilities, as well as the main hall and various spaces for fitness and leisure activities and a new multi-use games area (MUGA) outside. This is very much a community resource and we want everyone to feel it belongs to them. That’s why we’d like to see as many people as possible on Thursday evening. It’s the perfect chance to see the plans, hear about how the building work will progress and to ask any questions you might have.’

The Hub is being built by contractors BAM, who have been the contractors for a number of our new secondary schools like the Windmill Community Campus, which houses Viewforth High School and Rosslyn Special School.

BAM representatives will also be visiting local primary schools to raise awareness of the dangers associated with construction sites and the arrangements that are put in place to keep everyone safe.

Set right in the heart of Templehall, where the Argos Centre now sits, building on this site means that the library and current community centre groups do not have to decant during the build. The current Argos Youth Groups can relocate to the existing Templehall Centre until the Hub is complete. So everything remains business as usual until the new Templehall Hub is built.

The New Templehall Community Hub offers an opportunity for local people to pop into one venue and access a whole host of services and activities right on their doorstep.

The new Hub will contain:

• A training kitchen where adults and young people can learn new skills and where community groups can prepare food for activities
• A bright and comfortable café area with outside seating, this will benefit all ages, offering a feeling of social connectedness and a space where community groups can meet. Family groups will benefit from this area as it connects to an outside decked area where raised beds and growing areas will be provided to stimulate an interest in biodiversity and the outdoors
• A computer room with 10 PCs - will be available. The library, job clubs, adult learners' groups and young people can all now have on site access to computers when they need them
• The reception area will be bright and spacious and from here you can access the centre activities, sign up to a class or ask for advice from local office staff. You can also drop into the library or make an appointment for one-to-one support in one of our smaller advice spaces. All these services can be booked or accessed in one place
• The library being part of the hub provide more access to spaces where they will have room to run activities like Bookbug and fitness classes
• The main games/community hall will be suitable for large scale events and is designed to accommodate a range of sporting activities
• A range of spaces are available and adaptable so the hub can accommodate, fitness activities, family activities, cultural events, large scale conferences or celebrations and will also offer quieter spaces, suitable for small group meetings or one to one support and advice
• All rooms will be accessible and adaptable so they can be used by all ages and abilities
• A bike and pram store and multi-use games area (MUGA) will be built right next to the centre allowing a range of groups to book and use this space

Councillor Cameron finished by saying:  ‘Don’t just take our word for how amazing the new Hub will be. Pop along to Templehall Community Centre on Thursday (19th) at any time between 6pm and 7.30pm to see the plans for yourself and ask any questions you might have. Look forward to seeing you there.’

Click here for the original press release.