ONE night in February, distraught residents on an Oxford estate watched as their former social club was destroyed by fire.

But this week they gathered for a happier reason – to see the eyesore demolished to make room for a new community centre.

It is hoped work can get under way on the Dean Court Community Centre, in Pinnocks Way, by the spring.

Priscilla Waugh, vice-chairman of the Dean Court Community Centre Association, said: “It is a fabulous day. It will just be so nice to get rid of all the blackness.

“I think everyone on the estate will be pretty excited to see something happening at last.”

The Dean Court Social Club closed in May 2010. A group was set up shortly afterwards to transform it into a community centre for people on the estate.

But in the early hours of February 28, the building was set alight in a suspected arson attack.

Ms Waugh said: “It was awful to stand there and watch it burn.

“But now they are taking down about half of the building. It means we can get in there and look at the state of the drains and internal walls.

“I would hope work will start in the spring and hopefully by next summer our bank holiday fun day will actually be held in the centre.”

Residents have received a £20,000 grant from the Oxfordshire Stronger Communities Alliance and others from Cumnor Parish Council and Vale of White Horse District Council.

A fun day was held in August to bring the community together and raise extra funds.

Ms Waugh said: “This is going to be a building for everyone in this estate – from the very young to the very old – people who for quite a long time have felt fairly alienated. This is such a different community from what it was in the 1950s, so I am looking forward to getting everyone together.”

But work still has to be done before building can begin.

Surveyor Stuart Larkin said: “There will be a period when the building is shuttered once again, allowing time for full investigations into the foundations and drainage before architects’ plans can be finalised.

“Building work is likely to begin in the spring and is likely to take three to four months.”

Residents are hoping to win a grant of £6,000 from the NatWest Community Fund. The winners will be decided by popular vote.

To vote for the centre, visit communityforce.natwest.com/project/4000.