A FACILITY which has become a magnet for vandalism and antisocial behaviour could soon benefit from a £700,000 overhaul.

A FACILITY which has become a magnet for vandalism and antisocial behaviour could soon benefit from a £700,000 overhaul.

Castle Batch Community Centre off Magdalen Way, has been short-listed to receive the massive cash injection.

The money, which comes from the Government but is administered by The National Lottery, would be used to completely revamp the building and turn it into a thriving neighbourhood facility.

Concerns were raised last year that the centre and its facilities could close if no cash was found to renovate it.

Now, it has made it through to the second stage of the application and assessors from the National Lottery will visit for a tour of the site tomorrow (Tues) to help make a decision.

If the bid is successful, receiving the money will be dependant on the centre being run by a community group. At the moment, ideas include forming a committee from police and council representatives, as well as residents.

An assessment panel has been put together to look at the options for the future of Castle Batch Community Centre which is made up of interested parties.

It put forward the application and completed an initial telephone assessment last month. Panel members hope to find out whether they have reached the third stage by March.

Castle Batch Community Centre has been a target for yobs in recent years and previously the Weston & Somerset Mercury has written reports about broken glass, empty alcohol bottles and dogs mess strewn across the area around it.

Ward councillor Steve Edwards says there is little point in looking to North Somerset Council for funding considering the massive savings it is currently having to make.

He says he would like to see something similar to Locking Castle's Campus created at Castle Batch.