An unusually well-attended meeting of Greens Norton Parish Council last night (Monday, September 6th) saw villagers vote for a new community centre. A packed Methodist Hall heard arguments for and against - although there were very few of these - a proposal that the PC should buy the AIMS building (better known to older residents as Terry Atkins' yard). This stands on its own land adjacent to the old Youth Hostel (the building currently passing for a set of changing and function rooms).

Linda Paice, Clerk to the Parish Council, informed the meeting that the PC was authorised by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to accept a vote by show of hands of all villagers present (including the council members). There was an overwhelming majority in favour of the proposal.

The bujilding will provide a medium-sized meeting hall and sports changing rooms along with off-road parking for up to 20 cars. It will have full disabled access (helped by being entirely on one storey). The existing building will need some relatively minor internal refurbishment and will eventually be run by the Greens Norton Community Centre Association, a charitable organisation.

The PC proposal was to buy the premises with a loan and recover the costs over a 20 year period via a small increase on the rates (by means of the precept to the South Northamptonshire Council). This additional charge was predicted to amount to less than £1 per week for a band D property.

On behalf of the Cricket Club and, I am sure, other sporting and social organisations in the village the committee would like to extend its thanks to and support for the PC in this venture. It will be a long overdue and much appreciated addition to village amenities.

After the vote had been taken members of the cricket club - past and present - were obliged to retire to the Butchers' Arms to discuss the philosophy of the game and its relevance to modern life. Sadly discussion about the end-of-season pitch preparation kept intruding. Volunteers watch this space ....