RESIDENTS in west York have launched an ambitious £500,000 lottery bid to extend their community centre.

Groups and householders in Foxwood have come together to apply for the grant, which would give hundreds more people access to the centre.

It was originally built in 1980 to serve about 700 residents, but the local population has now spiralled to more than 1,200 and the current facility is too small to accommodate everyone.

If successful, the lottery cash would be used to redevelop and extend the centre to twice its present size, and to make new services and facilities available to local people.

Outline plans have been drawn up for a more user-friendly building which will meet the needs of lots of different groups. It would include activity space for young people, family-friendly space, a computer suite and an informal caf area.

Cindy Benton, 35, the centre's community development worker, said the extension would make a huge difference to local residents. "We're that full we simply can't get anyone else in," she said. "We can't properly serve single parent families and young people. The extension would stop people missing out."

Residents were being invited to drop in to the centre any time today

to give their views on the proposals.

The event will be attended by City of York Council leader and Foxwood councillor Steve Galloway, and will include fun activities for all ages, along with a computer generated tour of the new building.

James Gumley, chairman of Foxwood Residents Association, said: "At the moment all we've got is a hall and one little room.

"People want to do things for the community but there is no space."

The lottery bid has taken more than a year to put together and residents hope that, if approved, the extension could be built by the end of 2005.

Updated: 08:49 Wednesday, April 07, 2004