Following extensive work by Somerset County Council, Consultants and the Community Steering Group it is now expected that the long awaited 10 Parishes Centre will be built on the south side of Croft Way as previously contemplated.

The first phase will be the Children's Centre to be ready by March 2008 followed by Phase 2 which will be an integrated building designed by the same firm of architects.

The business case has been made and is contained in a report by Roger Tym which is now on the Wiveliscombe web-site. This report advocates removing the Community Centre to the new site and providing an integrated new build which will offer much needed facilities including, amongst other things, proper access for the disabled, sound proofed flooring, a kitchen, large and small meeting rooms for social and business use, training and service delivery spaces and more, all integrated with the Children's Centre as a wholly joined up Community Facility which will serve Wiveliscombe and the 10 Parishes long into the future.

If this ambitious plan is to be achieved, the existing Steering group needs to be reconstituted and strengthened. Volunteers who are committed to the concept of the new Centre are now wanted. They may well be users of the existing community facilities but they should not expect to represent any particular group rather to brin g their experience of what is needed at the Centre.

Whilst anyone is welcome to put their name forward, certain features are seen as desirable.

• Commitment. The Group will NOT be just a talking shop. All members will be expected to attend regular meetings, adhere to an agreed set of principles and be ready to work to support the aims of the group.

• Expertise. This may be as a user of existing facilities or in some specialist field such as accountancy, legal or technical.

• Knowledge of the System. Grants/funding will have to be obtained and contacts made with Local Authorities and other Agencies. Any experience in this field would be most useful.

Anyone who is interested in joining us should e-mail us with a brief outline of their experience at the following address:10parishescentre@wiveliscombe.com