Lottery funding totalling £230,527 has been awarded to the project to open a Liskerrett community centre at the redundant school site at Varley Lane, Liskeard.

The money should act as a catalyst for other funding for the £417,000 project. The news was greeted with delight by John Lennon, chairman of the working group formed by the town forum to put the scheme into operation. He stressed that the amount given is more than half the total of the finance which is required.

The process to apply for the Lottery grant was put into operation at the beginning of the year, and involved a great deal of form-filling, and checking on behalf of the Lotteries Board.

Mr Lennon also said that an offer to buy the old junior school premises at Varley Lane has been made and accepted (subject to contract) by Cornwall county council, who are the current owners of the site. Legal proceedings to purchase have started.

Mr Lennon explained: 'The working group is confident that the release of the Lottery grant will initiate the release of the outstanding funding from three other sources, and expect confirmation in the very near future. The grant has been the culmination of two years of hard work by the working group that has attracted the support of councils at town, district and county level, as well as the unanimous support of the public. The working group would like to thank those people and authorities who have provided so much support, advice and encouragement throughout the lifespan of the project.'