MORE than four years ago, the Crediton Arts Centre committee asked architect David Treadaway (an active member of the Centre) to draw up plans for a new entrance and foyer.

The old wooden door of the Victorian building, once part of Hayward's School, was not at all welcoming.

The lobby was cramped, as anyone who has queued in the rain waiting to get in for a show would agree.

The committee wanted something warmer and lighter which would also improve access for the disabled.

Armed with David's innovative drawings, they got planning permission – but could not get a grant.

In the summer of 2008, the sale of Exeter Airport released considerable sums of money to Devon County Council for capital projects to help the community.

Talking with the County Councillor for Crediton, Nick Way, the committee discovered that the first deadline was only days away.

Members put a proposal together using the existing plans – and within a week, Mr Way telephoned from the meeting to say they had secured a grant of almost £17,000.

County Cllr Michael Lee joined Mr Way in providing further support from their Locality Funds.

The buildings are so heavily used that the project could not begin until the 2009 summer holidays.

The team of local craftsmen included Melvin Windsor (builder), Ken Simmons (electrician) and Philip Wright (joiner).

Amos Lighting of Exeter, RGB, Wellington Tiles and A and S Paving proved to be rapid and helpful suppliers.

Ashgrove Kitchens, who supported the Arts Centre's Food Festival and Shakespeare in the Square during the Crediton Festival 2009, generously donated new units for the kitchen.

The previously forbidding wooden door has long gone to the skip and in its place is an enlarged foyer, attractively tiled and lit.

A paved area, with sunken lighting leads down to the doorway.

The kitchens have been newly refurbished making the Arts Centre even more attractive to users and potential hirers.

The foyer has been in use for several months, but was officially opened – by Cllr Way – at a reception held at Crediton Arts Centre on March 20.

Speeches were made by Cllr Way, Geoff Fox (Arts Centre Trustee), Paul Cartwright (Chair of Trustees) and other speakers.

The reception also included short performances by Crediton Youth Theatre, a reading from the Writers' Group, an excerpt from Cromwell Cut by the Brown Paper Bag Theatre Company, a sketch by Nancy Dowling and members of her Spanish class and music from the last "Shakespeare in the Square" performance of Pericles.