Councillor Marilyne MacLaren unveiled a plaque to formally open the new Royston Wardieburn Community Centre yesterday. Cllr. MacLaren said the ‘fantastic new centre’ is a major achievement and she praised the efforts of the local community for creating a centre it can be proud of.
The Education, Children & Families leader said: “This is a very exciting day. As you all know a new community centre for Royston Wardieburn has been on the ‘to do’ list of the Council for many, many years and I am really pleased that despite the financial challenges we have faced we have delivered this fantastic new centre for the community”.
She went on: “You will remember that original plans for the new centre were to build at Royston School, but when I came into post and talked to you it was clear that you didn’t want that – you really wanted the new centre to be built here, as this is ‘neutral ground’ that allows the people of the different neighbourhoods – particularly the young people – to come together. That seemed to me to make perfect sense, so the opening of this new building today is a major achievement of the local community. You told me what you wanted and we have made it happen, so well done to all of you for sticking with that commitment”.
The original Royston Wardieburn Community Centre opened in 1965 and, not unnaturally, the building in Pilton Drive North was showing it’s age after over forty-five years of constant use. Over recent years the Centre’s management committee has campaigned tirelessly to get their building replaced and now at last – after a few false dawns and many ups and downs along the way – the superb new centre is open for business for the whole community to enjoy.
Royston Wardieburn is the first new centre to open in North Edinburgh since Muirhouse Millennium Centre opened in August 2000. The new building has all that the old building had and much, much more – a sports hall, state of the art computer suite, games room, café area and meeting rooms large and small. There’s also ample accommodation upstairs for centre staff, the Stepping Stones team and local Community Learning and Development workers.
The opening of the building is a dream come true for the centre’s chairperson Joan Turner. After watching a short documentary about the history of Royston Wardieburn she said: “Royston Wardieburn is a special place for so many people with a lot of happy memories. If the new Centre is even half as successful as the old centre has been I think we will all be well pleased”.
It was certainly a day to remember at Royston Wardieburn and community activists, politicians, local workers, schoolchildren and centre members turned out in force to celebrate the occasion. The afternoon was packed with activities – a Royal Scottish National Orchestra ensemble entertained guests and there was a presentation and short film (thirty hours edited down to five minutes!) presented by Roberta Blaikie of the Old Centre’s History Group. Councillor MacLaren also presented certificates of achievement to local children and members of the management committee who have successfully completed their REHIS Food and Hygiene Training, enabling them to assist in the building’s café. Guided tours of the building were also provided for guests to see the superb new facilities the centre has to offer.
Congratulations to everyone involved with the opening of Royston Wardieburn’s new community centre – and here’s to a successful 45 years!
Pictures: Opening day images
