Long loo wait is over at St Mary's Church

Father Robin Isherwood of St Mary's Magdalene Church in Alsager said he hoped that improvements to the building would turn it into a hub for the community as well as a place of worship. He said: "What we're trying to do is get people who live in the town to see St Mary's as their church and the congregation as one of many users."
The work at the west end of the building is scheduled to begin in November and Fr Isherwood said he expected the Crewe Road church to be ready for increased community use by March 2011. There will be a new kitchen, multi-purpose room and upper storey space for administrative work and storage. Fr Isherwood said: "We are delighted that we have got the connections of east Cheshire youth groups so youngsters are likely to find the church a suitable location. "We also want people like the U3A and various charities to meet and put on concerts and fund-raisers. It will be a place for non-profit organisers." Fr Isherwood added that the addition of toilets was sure to be welcome: "We have never had lavatories so when we have tried to host events there in the past people have come and asked me where they could use the toilet. "Most recently a woman approached me and I told her she would have to wait close to 12 months for the lavatories to be built in and she said, 'Unfortunately I can't wait that long'."

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