Plans for new community centre in Aston Clinton boosted by grant

Aston Clinton Park - AVDC new homes bonus fund to help redevelop the cafe and park - pictured are Alan Mooney - facility committee chairman, Gill Merry - parish clerk, Colin Read - planning committee chairman and Liz Tubb - parish council chairman

The centre would replace the current pavilion now occupied by the Cafe in the Park (and previous to that The Hub) in Aston Clinton Park, off London Road.

Aston Clinton Parish Council, which is spearheading the project, hopes to start building work by 2017.

Parish clerk Gill Merry said: “The old pavilion was built in the 60s and is not big enough for all the activities we have got going on here.”

The purpose-built centre will provide enhanced space for a range of activities including dance, pilates, martial arts, toddler groups, badminton and changing rooms for the village’s football teams.

It will round off an exciting new era for the park. A multi-use games area has just been installed, while there are also plans for skate ramps and a wider pathway to allow access to wheelchair users.

Alongside the grant from Aylesbury Vale District Council, the parish is also due to receive around £500,000 in ‘Section 106’ monies which are contributed by developers building homes in the village.

Mrs Merry said: “We have got to get something back for our residents for all the homes they are planning to build here.”

It is hoped the rest of the money can be acquired from other grants.In addition 10% of the takings from Cafe in the Park comes back to the parish council to fund the centre.