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Published:
September 24, 2006
Burnham Area Youth Centre's new
£200,000 extension officially
opened
Highbridge
paralympic medal winner Anthony Stevens cut the ribbon to officially
open a brand new £200,000 extension at the Burnham Area
Youth Centre on Sunday afternoon (September 24th).
Crowds
of VIPs and supporters gathered at the BAY Centre in Cassis Close
for a special open day to mark the opening of the brand new facilities.
 Chairman
Di Monaghan told the audience that the centre had bounced back
from being close to closure in 2002 to becoming a popular, thriving
and well-used facility in the town.
During
the last two years, the original building has benefited from new
heating, new windows, a revamped kitchen, new sound and lighting
systems, plus the introduction of new computer facilities. She
added that the new extension gives the building a new entrance
and lobby, plus new toilet facilities and a new annex.
Alan
Lovell, a former Rotary representative member at BAY Centre and
current chairman of Burnham's Rotary Club, which has raised thousands
of pounds towards the new facilities, added: "Many, many
people and organisations helped to raise the funds - some £200,000
by my reckoning - for all phases of the work. On behalf of all
my former volunteer colleague at the BAY Centre, also speaking
for the many groups and clubs that have benefited from the work,
we say a big thank you to everyone who has made today possible."
"We
don't have time to thank every contributor by name but I must
mention The Big Lottery, Somerset Partnership, the county council,
district council, town council, Lions, Round Table and Rotary
clubs, plus the Gateway and other partner organisations at the
BAY Centre."
 Brian
Watkiss and Alletsons Solicitors were also specially mentioned,
having spent many patient hours with the BAY Centre and Charity
Commissioners creating a new commission to support both youth
and community use.
Visitors
were able to wander round the new facilities during the day and
see many of the centre's popular clubs performing events. Stalls,
raffles, games, entertainment and refreshments were also laid
on.
Paralympian
Anthony Stevens, who won four medals in Athens in 2004, was chosen
to cut the ribbon because of his considerable achievements after
personal endeavour. "We hope he will inspire all BAY Centre
users to succeed in whatever they do in the future," said
Mr Lovell.
Meanwhile,
Burnham-On-Sea.com is now the official online home of the BAY
Centre, having launched the facility's new-look
Web site on Sunday. It provides a wide range of constantly-updated
news and background information about the facility.
RELATED
LINK:
Official Burnham
Area Youth Centre Website
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