WORK is almost complete on a facelift for Kesgrave Community Centre which will help it to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding town.The redevelopment began when the centre, off Ropes Drive, was granted a license to serve alcohol almost two months ago.

WORK is almost complete on a facelift for Kesgrave Community Centre which will help it to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding town.

The redevelopment began when the centre, off Ropes Drive, was granted a license to serve alcohol almost two months ago.

The centre had always had a bar but used to have to hire a publican in to run it. The new license means they can provide a bar at any time.

The refurbishment, costing around £70,000, will see the creation of a lounge area for people to sit and drink in. The existing bar area will also be opened up and re-carpeted throughout, and a hatch will be added from the bar through to the main hall.

Dave Chaplin of designers Group 3 Leisure Contracts, who are responsible for carrying out the work, said: "It's just going to make the area more inviting. At the moment it's quite closed in and dark and we are opening it up to make it more airy and comfortable."

June Klaschka, a volunteer at the centre, said: "Kesgrave is a town and not a village and we need to provide facilities fit for a town.

"We want to build up entertainment as part of the development. The hall is already used by lots of people but we want to build on this and we have great plans for it. We want to be able to put on more theatre performances and we hope to run a cinema club once a week."

The centre's management committee also hope that the development will encourage more businesses to use the centre for conference purposes, and other ideas for the future include regular car boot sales and a monthly market.

Mrs Klaschka said: "It's all about drawing the community in. I think a lot of people don't really know what we offer here and we need to get more people involved. It's such a shame when people don't realise what a fantastic facility they have on their doorsteps."

The work is expected to be complete by the end of the month and a special opening event will be held on October 6.