WORK is underway on a new community centre being built at the heart of a village near Chard.

The new Forton Community Centre is being built in Forton Lane and is the result of years of fundraising by village residents as well as a number of grants.

Andy Cottey, chairman of Forton Community Association, said: “We only had small changing rooms and there really was nothing else before and we have to go out of the village for some things.

“We have been trying for years and we managed to raise £55,000 as a village to go towards this.

“We then had £50,000 of funding from Sport England and we had £12,500 from South Somerset District Council’s Area West committee.”

Section 106 money totalling £15,000 has also been pledged.

The Forton Community Association was formed in August 2010 following many years of just being a large group of residents working in conjunction with Forton Rangers Football Club raising funds for a much-needed village hall and up-to-date facilities for the team.

Following village surveys, it was agreed a new, purpose-built community centre would better serve the needs of the community and the groups that would use it.

The groups include Forton Rangers FC, the pre-school group, the line dancing club, skittles groups, exercise groups, coffee morning groups and the cricket club.

The association organises various events during each year, such as a Barn Dance, the Forton Fun Day and Forton Horse Ride.

Andrew Turpin, district councillor for Tatworth and Forton, has supported the campaign for years.

He said: “This is the most fantastic achievement. It is a campaign that has been going on for more years than I can remember.

“I am thrilled that this community has a centre point of its own. It is all in the interests of sustainability and it will have tremendous benefits for residents.

“I like that it is adaptable, it has got a multitude of uses, and the fact that it will of course benefit other communities as well. The people involved are to be congratulated. When it opens it is going to be a thrill and it is a benefit for everyone.

“It is a project for which I campaigned for many years with the people of Forton at the front. It is their effort that has achieved this. It has my full support.”