VOLUNTEERS at a park in Stretford have been told it could cost as much as £350,000 to replace a derelict community hub.

Friends of Victoria Park Stretford (FOVPS), a community group committed to improving the park, hope to replace the condemned former tearoom with a new community hub and cafe.

But they have been told they will need to stump up a total of £350,000 to cover the costs.

Shelly Quinton-Hulme, from Stretford, has been chair of Friends of Victoria Park since 2006.

She said she has "watched the park grow and flourish" since the group formed in 2001.

Shelly acknowledges that the projected cost presents a challenge, but she is confident the community will get behind the project.

She said: "The new facilities will create a wonderful place for our community and will be a true community asset.

"It will be run by us with all profits being used in the park for improvements and community events. This will secure the future of Victoria Park for future generations.

"We've been working to improve this beautiful park since 2002, and it has become one of the best community hubs in Stretford.

"We've made many improvements to the park, held countless community events and carried out many community-led projects within Stretford.

"We are well known in the borough for being a very passionate and proactive group and I think the community will support our vision for a new hub and cafe."

The community group have already secured planning permission for the new building, and have agreed a 25-year lease with Trafford Council.

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The current community hub is condemned and now stands derelict.

Shelly said the the current building, used as a community tearoom and event hub, is no longer fit for purpose.

She said: "Unfortunately, the floor in the old building has collapsed because it is completely rotted through and the building is now condemned.

"To be fair, it has served the park well. It was probably designed to have a life of around 25 years and it has been here well over 50 years!"

The group has received a grant of £120,000 from Trafford Council towards the building costs of a new community hub. But the volunteers have been told they will need to find the remaining £230,000 themselves.

Shelly added: "We are looking to leverage funding from social grant makers, get local support from builders, plumbers, electricians, groundworkers and engineers to complete works at cost or lend a hand for free."

The group also launched a crowdfunding campaign at their annual Picnic in the Park event on Saturday, July 14.

The group aim to raise £45,000 through online donations which will be used to deliver the environmental and financial sustainability elements of the build.

Shelly said it is important that the new building is environmentally-friendly, but she acknowledged that this will come at a cost.

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The fundraising was launched at Picnic in the Park on Saturday, July 14.

The new hub will be powered by solar panels (£18,000), the toilets will re-use rainfall collected in water storage tanks (£9,000), LED lighting (£3,000) and electric underfloor heating (£7,000) will help reduce energy consumption, and a sophisticated CCTV system (£8,000) will ward-off anti-social behaviour.

Shelly said: "Our green building will be better for the environment and will have lower utility costs.

"This new building will also ensure that there is a community presence in our park from 8am to 10pm every day, providing a safe and friendly focal point for the park.

"The building will benefit all park users by providing clean, accessible toilets, good healthy and affordable cafe food and drinks, and a meeting space and hub for our community events."

You can support Victoria Park's new community hub and cafe by visiting www.crowdfunder.co.uk/fovps