A VENUE which houses more than 40 groups has unveiled plans to reopen to the public.

The Bridge Centre, which is used by organisations ranging from mother and toddler groups to the University of the Third Age, has been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, furloughed staff are returning with immediate effect to prepare the premises in line with Covid-19 secure measures.

The first groups to return to the centre, on Haddington’s Poldrate, will be priority groups that provide key or essential support to the community.

More groups will return throughout May, with the aim, subject to any change in coronavirus restrictions, of being fully open for groups of all ages to return to their activities by the start of the autumn term.

Jenny Harper, chairwoman of the Lamp of Lothian, which owns the Bridge Centre – which was being used by up to 1,500 people a week before the pandemic – said that the buildings had been “eerily quiet”.

She said: “The Lamp of Lothian Trust are delighted that the Bridge Centre and their activities will be reopening slowly but surely in the next few weeks and months, and I am fully aware of the caution and care the staff have been taking.

“The buildings have been, like so many, eerily quiet, but that is not to say much has not been happening behind the scenes.

“The Lammermuir Larder volunteers are offering a wonderful service to the community, as well as the Bridge Centre outreach team.

“We have welcomed the Tyneside Tavern into the courtyard, opening when permitted and dovetailing with the Bridge Centre.

“Haddington House is fully let to local businesses and nearly all are returning to their individual offices.

“The Lamp continues to shine its light in the local community and we fully intend to extend our charitable operations as life returns to normal this year.

“I would like to thank all our Friends of the Lamp and Trusts who have continued to support us, and to our tenants in Haddington House.

“These incomes enable us to offer all the buildings at the Poldrate free, to the community and for the community.”

Although the Bridge Centre has been closed, the staff have not been idle.

Online youth classes and music lessons have been taking place, while the community outreach team, along with the community wardens and police, have been out every weekend since June last year.

Christmas and Easter appeals have been organised, while the Lammermuir Larder, which provides a local community food initiative set up to support people struggling financially, was established in February.

The closure has also given the opportunity to see “much-needed maintenance” carried out in the building.