A COMMUNITY centre has enjoyed a year of success in 2018.

Dorset Road Community Centre in Atherton, known as “The Bridge”, has become more accessible for all age groups in the last 12 months.

A community asset transfer of the facility was granted by Wigan Council in March which means it will be secured for public use for residents for the next 25 years.

Atherton Pre-School Day Care Limited has invested more than £38,000 in a new extension to increase the size of the building to make it the nursery available to more families.

The centre has also celebrated the contribution made by Susan Marsh in 1971, who inspired 17 young people to campaign for a community centre and youth club on the Hag Fold estate.

The centre, which used to be called The Hag Fold Community Centre before changing its name to The Bridge, was built in 1976.

A memorial has been installed at the back of the centre in August.

A host of groups offer a variety of activities at the centre.

One of them, the Hag Fold Morris Dancers are now able to show off their silverware in a trophy cabinet, which they have wanted for the last 42 years. This was partly funded by McColl’s and Taylor Drilling Services Limited.

A five-star pay-as-you-feel community cafe is open every Tuesday at the centre between 11.30am and 2pm with the kitchen recently upgraded. Crockery, cutlery and table cloths have been provided by Wigan Age UK.

The outside of the building has been cleaned and barbed wire removed from the roof which has been paid for by councillors' Brighter Borough funding allocation.

The local authority's Deal for Communities Fund has paid for Wi-Fi to be installed at the site and other facilities.

In 2019, the centre hopes to get a new parking area at the front of the building and install a street light on the pathway to the existing car park.