Soon after the St Hugh’s estate was built in the 1970s, an active residents’ association emerged, led by a tenant named Hilda Lane. She and her associates lobbied Bromley Council to provide community facilities for the residents of the estate and eventually the Council agreed to build a community hall on an empty plot of land in St Hugh’s Road. However, the agreement was on the condition that the residents’ association managed the hall and that it is self-sustaining.
The St Hugh’s Estate Community Centre was opened in the early 1980’s, next to a small public open space and games area. The residents’ association – an unincorporated voluntary organisation at the time – took on the day-to-day management of the centre, including the direct provision of a number of community activities/services such as a youth club and holiday projects using volunteers from the local area. The association also took on some of the management responsibilities of the open space, such as locking and unlocking the pitch, litter picking and planting.
The Centre was renamed about 20 years ago in memory of Hilda Lane who passed away around that time.
Our current centre was built in 2012 and comprises the ground floor of a residential block. Extensive soundproofing has been incorporated to minimise any disturbance to residents living above. The open space adjacent to the centre incorporates a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) which used for community events as well as by users of the Hall and our Youth Club.
The Centre provides a mix of sports and leisure, youth, parent, health, education and faith-based activities for the local community. In addition the Centre is used for family celebrations by the local community. The Centre is used by other local stakeholders including the Police and Clarion Housing who own the site and lease the building to HLCA.