Connah’s Quay: Kathleen & May Community Centre nets £192,000 grant to tranform it into thriving social hub

The Quay Watermen’s Association has secured a £192,000 grant from the Welsh Government’s Coastal Communities Fund to upgrade the Kathleen and May Community Centre on Dock Road, Connah’s Quay.

The centre, named after the tallship built in Connah’s Quay by Ferguson and Baird in 1900, has been renovated from a disused sea cadets building by Association members.

The award will enable them to build a new roof, install insulation, central heating and a new dance floor as well as landscaping and tarmacking the perimeter and putting in security measures including CCTV.

The money will also be used to set up exciting community projects including a heritage centre, café and boat trips. Two specially manufactured wheelie boats with disabled access will be bought to enable boat trips.

There will be trips running from Chester through to Flint, trips to see the seal colony at Hilbre Island, and trips taking cyclists with their bikes to Saltney and Chester and letting them cycle back to Connah’s Quay and enjoy the views along the cycle path.

The projects will create a number of part time positions working in the café and on the boats, equating to three full time jobs.

The sea cadets will be invited back to the building, Royal Yacht Association training will continue, a dance teacher will offer dance classes and space will be available for community meetings and parties.

Keith Marland of the Quay Watermen’s Association said:

“For the last six years we’ve had to fundraise and do our own work, so the members will enjoy standing back and watching someone else do it! Putting the application together has been a massive amount of work, but it’s a massive amount of money, and everybody’s over the moon.

“It will create jobs and put the Quay on the map. In 1963 there were 43 shops within 200 yards of the dock. This was the hub, and now it can be again.”

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has been a champion of the project for years and supported the application.

“I’m absolutely delighted that the Quay Watermen Association have secured this funding,” he said.

“For years they have been working so hard on this project for the good of the community and now they have the money to make all their dreams a reality.

“The projects planned will raise the profile of Connah’s Quay dock once again with social, historic, educational and tourist activities all in one community-friendly hub.

“I wish them all the best with the work and will continue to help in any way I can.”