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When lockdown finishes on December 2 (if it does), some of us will be rushing to the pub, others to the hairdresser.
In Sevenoaks, everyone is looking forward to the chance to view their new community centre.
Sevenoaks Town Council commissioned the construction of the Bat and Ball Centre as part or its Northern Sevenoaks Masterplan and it is inviting residents to take a look around the new building with open days on Friday and Saturday, December 4 & 5.
The centre includes a large main hall, a smaller hall for multi-use including play schools, a kitchen and meeting room.
Outside there is multi-use games area for tennis, netball and 5-a-side football.
The centre has been built over and around the 30-year Sevenoaks Community Centre which has been transformed beyond all recognition.
The project cost just over £3m with £1.25m coming from developer contributions via the Community Infrastructure Levy, over £400,000 taken from reserves and a Public Works loan of £1.4m. KCC chipped in for some of the costs of fixtures and fittings.The project has been completed on time despite Covid.
The large hall has been named the Harry Garrett Hall after long-standing Sevenoaks resident and Dunkirk veteran Harry Garrett, who was made
a Freeman of Sevenoaks in 2018 for his commitment to the local community. He died last year aged 101.
The small hall has been named the John London Hall after another Freeman of Sevenoaks. John London was a former three-times Mayor and dedicated over 50 years - from 1959 to 2011 - to the town as a councillor.
He died in 2018 aged 83
The building, which is adjacent to the Bat and Ball station in Otford Road, will be open for public viewing between 10.30am and 2pm on both days, with the Mayor of Sevenoaks Cllr Nicholas Busvine performing the official opening ceremony at 10am on the Friday.
