THE new Maxwell Centre will be a key part in what is developing into an impressive community hub in Stenhouse Street, Cowdenbeath.

The community centre, which it is expected will open to the public on January 29, will join with the Leisure Centre and nearby new skatepark facility to create facilities which all age groups will benefit from.

Over the next few weeks Community Education Worker, Mike Payne, charged with the task of steering through the introduction of the Maxwell Centre to the people of Cowdenbeath, will, along with his team, settle in to their fine new home.

Replacing the Broad Street Centre, the new facility has a whole series of spacious multi use rooms with IT facilities which can be utilised by any local group.

There is also the Learning Kitchen, a facility with five work spaces, which will offer the opportunity for individuals and families to learn how to cook to a budget; a large Youth Room, which will have access to the Centre cafeteria, and will also house the 16+ group currently based at Bowhill Centre.

The well appointed IT suite has 12pcs to allow people to improve their skills and also a special screen with internet link.

There is a music room where groups and singers can practice.

The community hall provides a large facility which can house sporting activities, public meetings, civic events, parties, concerts or plays with excellent acoustics.

And a key element for the Maxwell Centre is accessibility for all with a large lift able to take people up and down to the facilities in the main building.

Access to the Centre will be from Stenhouse Street, and there will also be some parking facilities on-site and of course there is the large car park across the road.

Said Mike Payne: "This is the people of Cowdenbeath's new community centre and we want to hear from them what they would like to see provided here.

"We have our own ideas but it would be good to get some ideas from the people of the town what else they would like to see provided.

"Having the Maxwell Centre is allowing us to get a lot of CLD services under one roof which is going to be a big advantage.

"We would like to think that the large meeting rooms will provide an ideal base for the likes of Cowdenbeath Community Council and Civic Week Committee and other organisations in the town.

"There will also be a lot of adult education in the pipeline in conjunction with Fife College and the beauty of it all is that the Centre will be open until 9.30pm each evening."

And Mike stressed: "Remember we want to take on board all possible advice from the people of Cowdenbeath on what they want to see at their new community centre, so folk should not be shy in letting us know what they would want to see happening here."