Show goes on as The Crossing takes shape

A POPULAR facility in Lowestoft looks set to take a major step forward as work goes on to transform it into a new resource centre.

Ever since The Crossing, in Lowestoft High Street, reopened its doors in February last year after six months' closure, the re-launched service has been used by hundreds local people.

The Journal reported in 2008 that the facility had been forced to close after 11 years running services for people in Lowestoft, including schemes to help the unemployed.

But there was a ray of hope last year as the services of The Crossing were taken over as part of a project under the management the Waveney Community Forum Council for Voluntary Services (CVS).

And now one year on, the facility is going from strength to strength.

Waveney Community Forum has obtained enough funding to buy the whole of The Crossing building, and with contracts exchanged, a major programme of refurbishment works is now underway.

But while the transformation works, which started in February, continue to gather pace the 'show has gone on', according to a spokesman for the Waveney Community Forum.

A temporary home has been set up for The Crossing's services and training courses in the past month �- operating a mobile service from the 4 Towns Community Bus. And now, the next stop on its tour of Lowestoft is The Heritage Centre in Wilde's Score.

'The Forum has exchanged contracts for the whole of The Crossing building, with long-term plans of developing it into a large resource centre,' the spokesman said. 'In the short-term, a disabled access toilet is being installed, a new training room opened up, and a small learning room and office brought into use, with LEAP one of our main funders for this.'

It is hoped that The Crossing will re-open its doors in Lowestoft High Street again next month.