“Brakes off” in scouting group’s plans for Louth recreation plans

“The brakes are off” on plans to build a community centre in Louth following the £1 sale of a sports facility.

Members of the Louth Scouts Community Centre Partnership will be handed the keys to the Charles Street Recreation Ground following a meeting of councillors on Wednesday night.

Ward member and vice chairman of the group Councillor Sarah Parkin said: “This is ours forever, we’ll own it, we will be able to use it to really harness the partnerships we have already started with organisations like Home Start and the Croquet Club to build a really good new community centre right in the heart of Louth and linking to the open spaces on the site.

Photos of the Charles Street facilities. Photo: Daniel Jaines

“It will be the perfect site we can incorporate indoor physical activities with attempts to reduce social isolation.”

The plans include the demolition and rebuilding of the pavilion which stands on the site, along with development of the fishing ponds to create a better access – including for disabled people.

There will be spaces for existing partners and new ones to use the site, as well as for the scouts to use it for their own activities such as camping and outdoor cooking.

Photos of the Charles Street facilities. Photo: Daniel Jaines

Chairman and Scout Leader Adrian Beech said the aim was also to link the Fourth and Second scouts into one place and added he was really pleased with the short space of time in which the decision had taken place – within 12 months of the plans first being put forward.

He said the scouts already had a considerable portion of the money ready and would be working hard to make up the remainder.

Photos of the Charles Street facilities. Photo: Daniel Jaines

Even the young scouts were excited by the news.

Catie Hall, 12, has been in the scouts for more than six years.

She said: “It’s going to be really good because all of the scouts can work together and become closer as well as helping everyone else too.”

She said she was looking forward to working with the scout group and helping with work on the ponds.

Alex Reed, 11, said: “I think it’s going to be good, because we’ve got more access and freedom and I’m looking forward to the pond and all the activities we’ll do and that we’re closer to the other scouts.”

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