TRUSTEES of a much-loved community centre in Mude-ford have been officially handed the keys to the facility.

Christchurch councillors met with members of the Mudeford Wood Com-munity Trust to officially transfer the site to the Trust .

The transfer comes following a consultation held by the council at the end of 2009 about the future of the facility.

Members of the local community, who were incensed at the prospect of losing their local facility, drew up a petition asking that the facility be retained and a ‘Friends of Mudeford Wood’ organisation was formed.

After a series of negotiations, in September 2011 the council agreed to transfer the management of the building to the Trust and also agreed to grants of £28,000 to carry out essential repairs to the outside courts.

Around £22,000 was also given to carry out maintenance works to the centre as well as first-year employee costs of £40,000 and a first-year revenue grant of £20,000 reduced to £18,000 for future years and reviewed after five years.

Cllr Ray Nottage, leader of Christchurch council, said: “Over the long term this transfer will be making savings for the Christchurch council tax payers.

“I wish the Trust well and look forward to seeing how they develop the centre.”

Dawn Brookes, chairman of the Trust, said: “We hope it remains a hub for the community and we are able to grow it. We have started sprucing up the place but of course that takes money.

“We’re very grateful to the Friends of Mudeford Wood – more than 200 of them – who have contributed so much since we started this process.”

The Trust is in need of someone with financial skills to join the board.

Anyone interested can contact 01425 272084 or email Dawn Brookes at dawn.brookes1@ntlworld.com.

To celebrate the new management, a fun day is being held today from 10am to 4pm.

For more information go to www.mudeford woodcommunitycentre.co.uk.