A PUBLIC meeting will be held next week to tell Townhead residents about plans to build a local community hall.

A PUBLIC meeting will be held next week to tell Townhead residents about plans to build a local community hall.

Last month, the group behind the community project was awarded £68,000 of Lottery cash to help the scheme progress.

They now want to find out what local people want in the £1.36million centre, which is earmarked for a site next to Glasgow's Taylor Place tower blocks.

Alistair Thornley, who is acting as a consultant, said: "The project was started by a group of residents who said they had nowhere to meet and socialise which was pleasant, modern, safe and at the heart of the community.

"The only hall they had was a rundown former Salvation Army hall across a busy road, which was just not suitable."

Several ideas are being suggested for the new building, including a meeting room, cafe, computer room, reading room and library.

There are also plans for a drop-in centre for young people and space for access to job and money advice services.

Extensive consultation was carried out with the community and Mr Thornley said the point of the meeting was to feed back the results.

He added: "The meeting will also provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions and make their contributions about the activities they want to see in the hall."

The group hopes planning permission will be granted early next year, with building work starting in early summer and the centre opening in early 2010.

Anderston/City councillor Gordon Matheson said: "I've been working with local residents since 1999 to build a new village hall in Townhead and our efforts are paying off.

"The community has a shortage of facilities and Townhead Village Hall will be a social centre managed by the community, a place for lifelong learning and fitness."

Mr Matheson will chair the public meeting at 7pm next Wednesday in The Martyrs Church, St Mungo's Avenue.