NEW COMMUNITY LIFE GIVEN TO DISUSED FOXTON CHAPEL

The keys to a disused chapel in Foxton have been handed over to Cambridgeshire County Council to help a local learner centre expand and continue as a building for the community.
The Victorian Methodist chapel on Station Road, will now form part of the existing Foxton Learner Centre which is next to the site.

Almost 130 years ago on July 1 stones were laid for Charles Vinter and John Thurlbourn marking the building of the chapel. Now on that anniversary the keys have been handed over to the Centre for the building to open its next chapter.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance, said: “We have seized the opportunity to buy this building to help the centre expand and provide facilities for the community. Although we would normally look at having a newer building the benefits this chapel provides to the village as a whole made buying it an easy decision. When we look at buying or expanding facilities we also look at what are the needs of the wider community and how we can benefit them. It is about making sure Cambridgeshire gets much more bang for its buck.”

Janet Corr, Head of the Foxton Learner Centre, said: “The community have been very welcoming and it would have been a shame to have to move so we can expand. Taking over the chapel means we can provide better facilities and further meet the needs of our youngsters. It also means this building remains in use for the whole of the village for a range of community events. Talking to local residents it is clear there has always been an historical link between the school and the chapel. It is fitting that this will continue.”

Now the chapel will undergo refurbishment to provide additional educational accommodation.
ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Cambridgeshire County Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance, on 01954 200571 or 07720 379699 or Mark Miller on 01223 699283.

For further comment call Liberal Democrat spokes Councillor David Jenkins 07739 758859 or Labour spokes Councillor Christine Carter (01223) 561426.

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