Following a fantastic topping out ceremony, work continues at pace at The Link Centre. We spoke to Site Administrator Hayley Dawson to find out the latest.
Hayley has been working on site with the main contractor, Messenger, for the duration of the project, which will transform the existing church buildings on the corner of Church Street and Station Road, creating space for a wide range of community uses and events.
Ashbourne Methodist Church had been working on transforming their building into a community hub for a number of years before the possibility of UK Government funding. By the time of applying for Government funding, the church had already developed detailed plans, received planning permission and raised significant funding. The well-developed proposal for the community hub was a key factor in the eventual success of the Ashbourne Reborn programme partnership bid.
What is your role in The Link Centre project?
I’m Site Admin, I work with all the subcontractors, plumbers, electricians, plasterers, scaffolding, roofers. I’m responsible for inductions and day to day permits etc, and place orders for Messenger. I get all the information we need so everybody knows exactly what they’re doing. I do initial review of risk assessments and method statements, and take progress photos – that’s quite good because then you can see it coming together.
You’re from Ashbourne, what are your memories of this building and what do you think about how it is changing?
I used to come to Basement, which was a youth club on a Friday night when I was 14. It was downstairs and there was a pool table and kitchen for toasties and tea. The project is amazing, it’s going to create accommodation at The Gateway Lodge, but also the community centre, The Link, Cornerstone and the church itself. Although obviously we are in a church, it’s not just going to be church related stuff, they’re going to do community events here, maybe music festivals. It will bring people together, it’s going to be really good in the end.
What can people expect to see in the next few months?
Over the next few months we’ll be second fixing the mechanical and electricals in The Gateway Lodge. We’ve got drainage and gas pipes going in the ground, and we’ll raise The Link up so you can get in from the street. It’s going to build onto the Cornerstone, and there will be an outdoor seating area. A ramp will be put in and there will be a door from The Link Foyer straight into Trinity Hall.
Right now, we’re here in the worship hall where we’ve taken out all the pews. They’re going to come back in along with new seating, but it’s now Cornerstone cafe while we work on the Cornerstone building. This has really come along very nicely. We worked with the conservation officer and have painted the walls and gallery, it’s so much brighter now and not cold, like some churches can be. It feels very homely, and it gives a real feel for the community hub. This is what it’s going to be like.
How will you feel when the project is finished?
I genuinely think it’s going to be amazing and I’m so excited to see it. Having seen it from the start, it’s going to be great to see it come all the way through. My favourite part is the accommodation that will be at the Gateway Lodge, because that will be really good for the community. When this project finishes it will be sad to leave everybody, but because I’m local I’ll see it all the time. It will be wonderful to walk past it and know I was a part of that.
Read more on the Ashbourne Reborn website: The Link community hub
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