The idea of the Newlands Partnership building a community centre on the site of Ravenscliffe First School is an appealing one which deserves the wholehearted support of local people.

The partnership has been allocated £17 million from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget. Spending some of it on buying the land and building a multi-purpose centre would surely prove to be a worthwhile investment.

If, as has been suggested, it was to house such services as banks, a housing office and health facilities under one roof at the heart of the estate, it would save local people a great deal of inconvenience - particularly as the bus services in and out of Ravenscliffe have recently been reduced.

But equally as important is the idea of having rooms available for community use. It is very important, if a spirit of community is to develop, that people of all ages have somewhere they can go and meet, both socially and to discuss matters important to the area.

However, if Ravenscliffe does get its new community centre, the local people must be prepared to work together to keep it. After an initial period, they will no doubt need to raise funds to cover its running costs, and will need to protect it against the sort of vandalism which has blighted other similar facilities elsewhere.

Hopefully, though, the sense of local pride which it will have helped to create will provide the motivation necessary to guarantee that the centre remains a great asset to the estate for many years to come.