A community centre which has become established as the hub of activities on an Old Colwyn housing estate has been given a new lease of life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The premises on the Tan Lan estate underwent a \u201c90-Minute Makeover\u201d involving volunteers, tradesmen and staff of Cartrefi Conwy, the housing association now responsible for housing matters which formerly came under the local authority.<\/p>\n
\u00a0It was officers of Cartrefi Conwy who organised the intensive session at the centre in response to a plea from the residents, led by Jenny Hughes and Sylvia Lavender. They are, respectively, secretary and chair of the busy Tenants and Residents\u2019 Association, and both serve as tenants\u2019 representatives on the Board of the association.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The centre first opened about 25 years ago and the council later installed a mobile classroom from Ysgol y Creuddyn in Penrhyn Bay alongside. About five years ago a link was built between the two buildings.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThe centre is very heavily used by all sorts of groups, so it is inevitable that it tends to get to look a bit shabby,\u201d said Sylvia, who has lived in the 400-house estate for 35 years.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u201cWe asked Cartrefi Conwy to help us, and they immediately agreed to organise this 90-Minute Makeover. That is where we notice a big difference now that Cartrefi Conwy has taken over \u2013 they are much more approachable than the council used to be and listen to what we say,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Christine Mockridge, the Cartrefi Conwy\u00a0 Neighbourhood Co-ordinator responsible for Tan Lan, said Cartrefi Conwy undertake about two or three such makeovers each year throughout the county.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cApart from carrying out work which clearly needs to be done it brings people together and helps to foster the community spirit,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0At the Tan Lan centre volunteers from various groups were joined by Cartrefi Conwy staff and all donned white overalls to give the entire interior of the premises a new coat of paint in record time.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The materials were all donated by ICI, with which the association works in partnership on many projects, and also on hand to offer advice were professional painters and decorators from the Bell Group UK, who recently won a contract to paint almost 800 of the association\u2019s properties.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 Among the volunteers was Fflur Roberts, who holds sessions at the centre for Standing Start, a group which offers help and advice to parents on a range of subjects.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWe have been coming here for about four years and so we felt that we should come along to help with the makeover. It will be brighter and more attractive for the users,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n