A hub for the Malmesbury community was unveiled to the public last week after an £8,000 renovation to the town hall’s Market Room.

Residents turned out to watch the opening of the new facility, run in conjunction with housing group Green Square and Malmesbury Town Council.

The hub has been designed to provide a base for local services, including different housing associations, the police and the Citizens Advice Bureau, to use as a place to meet residents, hold advice sessions and run courses. It will give access to community groups and information on jobs and services available in the area.

Coun Julie Exton, who joined the council to push for the hub, said: “I’m a real community person and I like being involved, and I just felt that what was lacking in Malmesbury was somewhere where we can access various community groups.”

Eva Partridge, neighbourhood manager at Green- Square, was joined by Coun Exton, town councillor Roger Budgen and the Mayor John Gundry to cut the ribbon and launch the hub on Friday.

The Market Room, or Old School Room as it is also known, was renovated by 16 members of staff from GreenSquare, who volunteered to redecorate, fit a new kitchen, put in new electrics and convert the store room into an office.

Before then it stood relatively unused for the past four years.

Other groups, including Credit Union and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust food branch, have been lined up to use the hub.

Ms Partridge said: “It is fantastic that the hub will be able to offer a range of key community support services for the town and I have no doubt that it will quickly become a focus point for assistance and advice.”

GreenSquare will initially have staff on hand at the hub on Tuesdays and Thursdays, who will be available to help GreenSquare residents with any queries, with a view to running activities such as cookery and IT classes.

For more information, visit www.malmesburyhub.org.uk