THE new £1.4million Whitecraig Village Hub is expected to open to the public next Monday (January 13).

The facility, which will replace the present community centre at Whitecraig Crescent, was used as a polling place for last month’s General Election.

A spokesman for East Lothian Council said: “The full opening of the facility, from when its general facilities can be used, is expected on January 13. There will hopefully be a more official opening at a later date.”

The hub has been built on the site of Deantown Bowling Club’s former clubhouse, which was demolished in 2013.

The council spokesman added: “We’re looking forward to the full opening of Whitecraig Village Hub, which is a fantastic new facility for the community.

“Construction work is complete and, in the coming weeks, the focus will be on finalising aspects such as set-up, staff induction and familiarisation.

“We recognise that the community is very keen to start using and benefitting from the new facilities.”

It was agreed that the new centre should be a focal point for the village, suitable for a range of uses and development of new activities, and have changing facilities for the bowlers.

The bowlers have also expressed an interest in retaining the transportable unit near the centre for the club’s use, which is being considered as part of the council’s Community Asset Transfer guidance and policy.

The centre features:

  • A multi-purpose function hall that can accommodate up to 100 people (seated) that can be used for community and private function use, recreational sports, fitness activities and classes, with storage for equipment;
  • A kitchen for various community uses for groups such as the lunch club and suitable for functions and teaching;
  • Two meeting/multi-purpose rooms – one that can be used for occasional crèche with access to external recreation space, and a second that has access to the bowling green;
  • Toilets/changing facilities, including changing and locker facilities for the bowling club.

The hub will have 11 car parking spaces, including two disabled accessible bays and two electric charging bays.

Planning consent was granted in 2016. Work began on-site in October 2018.