A COMMUNITY group has unveiled plans to "regenerate" its headquarters and provide better facilities for a resident playgroup.

Lymington Community Association has applied for planning permission to make a raft of improvements to the Lymington Centre, including a single-storey extension and a new outside play area.

The association says the existing play space is overlooked by other parts of the complex - a situation it describes as "far from ideal".

Daily Echo:

A planning statement that forms part of the application says: "The Lymington Centre has a long and successful history of providing community facilities and arranging community activities.

"Developed over a 70-year-old period, its facilities now require regeneration to encourage a new generation to support them."

The statement says a playgroup based in the Normandy Room, which is next to the reception area, is a core activity which helps ensure the centre is used by people of all ages.

But it adds: "The current arrangement has disadvantages both for the centre and the playgroup.

"The Normandy Room is too small to house the number of children the playgroup aspires to serve in order to be economic, and the playgroup has no direct access to the external play area it needs.

"It currently uses a courtyard which is remote and has to be accessed via the Malt Lounge.

"It is overlooked by both the Malt Hall and the Malt Lounge. This is a far from ideal arrangement in terms of management and safeguarding."

The statement says the Normandy Room could be used by a wider variety of groups as well as forming part of a "much more welcoming" entrance to the centre.

Daily Echo:

It adds: "The courtyard, if available to all users and not just the playgroup, would become an asset to the Malt Hall and Malt Lounge and enable them to attract a wider range of users."

If the scheme goes ahead the playgroup will be moved to the Robert Hole Room, which will be enlarged.

The association is proposing a brick-built extension, next to the existing kitchen, which would provide a bigger area for the playgroup and a storage facility for its equipment.

The Robert Hole Room overlooks a piece of land occupied by a timber storage shed, which would be demolished and replaced by an outside play area.