ROSE Hill residents will have a final chance to view the plans for the estate’s new £3m community centre next week.

A series of public exhibitions is being run by Oxford City Council at Rose Hill and Donnington Advice Centre and Rose Hill Community Centre from Monday to showcase the proposals before a planning application is submitted at the end of this month.

The new centre, which will be built on the site of the children’s playground in the recreation ground in Ashhurst Way, will bring together facilities including a social club, advice centre, sports pavilion and the youth club.

The existing pavilion could also be replaced with a new building.

Thames Valley Police confirmed last month that they were looking at the new centre as a base for their neighbourhood team.

Ray James, chairman of the Rose Hill Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, said: “I am pleased. One, it shows progress is being made and two, it shows having finalised the plans the council is still going to give the residents the opportunity to see what their plans are. That has got to be good because there is always a concern that the council says one thing and you end up with something else. I have seen the plans and I am very happy. I am very pleased at what is on offer and I think it will be of immense benefit to the estate and the wider community.”

In the plans, the existing community centre will be demolished and the land could be used for housing.

A vote for Rose Hill residents was held in November when a community poll which saw 459 of the 585 voters opting to rebuild and 126 backing a revamp of the existing centre.

Bill Buckingham, 91, secretary of the Rose Hill Community Centre Association, which runs the existing community centre in The Oval, warned: “We have mixed feelings.

“Naturally people look at a new building and think it is going to be marvellous but there is a lot of work to be done, with what rents are to be charged, for example.”

He said he was surprised the council was consulting residents again as the plans had already been put on show.

Funding for the project, which could be completed by early 2015, will come from developer contributions.