History and Background of the Centre
Soon after the 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 ten years ago in memory of Hilda Lane who passed away around that time.
The new centre is very different to the old one in that it will be located on the ground floor of a new residential block. Extensive soundproofing has been incorporated into the design to minimise any disturbance to residents living above. The new open space, which is adjacent to the centre, incorporates a well-designed Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and the Centre will manage this facility and the adjacent open space for community events.
For a list of our trustees, please see here.
