BULLDOZERS move in next week to turn a long-held dream into reality when work on Haslemere's long-awaited community centre gets under way.

After almost 16 years, Haslemere residents and Age Concern in particular will at last see the start of building work on Haslewey.

The new building, designed as a day centre for the town's older folk, will also provide much-needed community facilities.

"We are absolutely delighted that after all this long time and many untoward delays we can get this off the ground," said trustee and project co-ordinator Jean Mansley, who masterminded the campaign and first appealed for the centre in September 1986

Beset by myriad problems over the years, including two-failed lottery bids, work on the scaled-down single storey building on Waverley-owned land in front of Tesco's supermarket is due to start on Monday, June 24.

Building work was delayed by several months by a technicality in the transfer of funds from the former Haslemere Social Centre.

"We breathed a sigh of relief last week when we heard we could proceed," said Mrs Mansley. "Certainly patience and perseverance are at last being rewarded."

The centre, which is to have first-class facilities including a medical and chiropody room and a hair and beauty salon, will be used by the Age Concern Haslemere group as a day centre and will be used by other community groups and hired out for public and private functions.

Plans for Haslewey, which will cost £1 million and should take 10 months to build, were first announced in 1985 when Mrs Mansley started a campaign for improved facilities for elderly people, when she was town mayor and chairman of the Old People's Welfare Association - later to become Age Concern, Haslemere.

Appalled by the "lack of decent facilities in the area", Mrs Mansley lobbied Waverley for a site on which to build. It was later agreed to use land next to the Waverley Locality Office in Lion Green for the project.

Haslewey will replace the Wey Centre which is used by Age Concern as a day centre.

Trustees, including Rear Admiral Cook and chairman of Age Concern, Haslemere, Edith Kinghorn, will appoint a management committee and start making plans to ensure it is a self-financing venture, assisted by a Waverley grant.

The building was designed by Godalming-based architects, Modern Design Group, and will provide a pleasant environment where people can socialise and take part in activities. It includes a coffee and snack bar, a restaurant, two activity rooms for arts, crafts and meetings, a bathroom and shower, in addition to the medical and chiropody room and hair salon. It is proposed that the catering services will be put out to franchise.

On weekdays it is expected that Haslewey will be of most benefit to retired people, but it is hoped that all age groups will make use of its facilities.

Although enough money has been raised by the trustees for the construction of the building, more funds are required to fit it out with carpets, curtains, equipment and furniture.The remaining cost is estimated to be around £150,000.

Mrs Mansley said: "It would be lovely if people could follow the example of our town mayor and make Haslewey their adopted charity for the year. We really do want this to be a building Haslemere can be proud of."

Overnight and temporary car parking will not be possible at the site from June 21, but pedestrian access to the locality office and Tesco will not be affected during the construction work.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to the scheme should make cheques payable to Haslewey Community Centre and send them to the treasurer, Nigel Everett, at HSBC Bank, High Street, Haslemere.