The doors of Marlpit Community Centre opened yesterday for people to vote on the future plans of the centre.

Eastern Daily Press: Centre chairman Lucy Galvin shows Edward Taylor how to vote on future plans for the Marlpit Community Centre, by having nine beans and placing them in the labelled jars of his choice in the voting booth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYCentre chairman Lucy Galvin shows Edward Taylor how to vote on future plans for the Marlpit Community Centre, by having nine beans and placing them in the labelled jars of his choice in the voting booth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Volunteers at the community centre hosted a tea time event from 4pm to 7pm.

The centre, which is owned by Norwich City Council but run by a charity staffed by volunteers, has embarked on the community consultation following a year spent making a business plan for the future.

Voting was open throughout the event and votes were counted at 7pm.

The options for the future of the centre included new notice boards and displays, a kitchen revamp, recycling facilities for users, solar panels, new signage outside, better links with Marriott's Way, social media development, a website, health events, a recruitment drive for committee members and employing a caretaker and book keeper.

Eastern Daily Press: The voting booth with jam jars labelled with examples of the future plans for the Marlpit Community Centre, where voters have nine beans to drop in the jars of their choice. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYThe voting booth with jam jars labelled with examples of the future plans for the Marlpit Community Centre, where voters have nine beans to drop in the jars of their choice. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Marlpit Community Centre chairman Lucy Galvin said: 'The community tea and cake and voting on the future plans was followed by the AGM of the Marlpit Community Association so it has been a busy and exciting day. Thanks to the hard work of the committee we have seen a 64pc increase in income. We have turned around from running at a loss to breaking even. We are becoming a thriving centre, and we are always looking for more people to join in.

'We had a community voting exercise on the future for the centre, and what we focus on for the future.

'The winner by a massive majority was Solar Panels with 96 votes, second came events to encourage health with 47 votes, third events to improve links to the Marriott's Way (46 votes) and fourth a new cooker for the kitchen and a revamp of the kitchen (40 votes). The committee will start work on these projects as part of its business planning.'

During the drop in, visitors also had the chance to visit a range of stalls from organisations showing what they do in the area including Age UK Norwich, Marriott's Way Heritage Trail, Tiger Mixed Martial Arts Hanmudo, Marlpit Arms Pub, Rivercare and the Sustainable Living Initiative.

Eastern Daily Press: The voting booth with jam jars labelled with examples of the future plans for the Marlpit Community Centre, where voters have nine beans to drop in the jars of their choice. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYThe voting booth with jam jars labelled with examples of the future plans for the Marlpit Community Centre, where voters have nine beans to drop in the jars of their choice. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Animals from Angelica's Rainbow, a local organisation which provides animal encounters for education, therapeutic and practical purposes were also at the drop in.

Eastern Daily Press: Centre chairman Lucy Galvin with Amber the bearded dragon at the Marlpit Community Centre open day. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYCentre chairman Lucy Galvin with Amber the bearded dragon at the Marlpit Community Centre open day. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Charlotte Kippin, left, from Age UK, with Jon Snow the rabbit; Lora Steggles, centre, Angelica's Rainbow, with Amber the bearded dragon; and Lucy Galvin, councillor, with Jack Frost the guinea pig, at the Marlpit Community Centre open day. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYCharlotte Kippin, left, from Age UK, with Jon Snow the rabbit; Lora Steggles, centre, Angelica's Rainbow, with Amber the bearded dragon; and Lucy Galvin, councillor, with Jack Frost the guinea pig, at the Marlpit Community Centre open day. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Lora Steggles of Angelica's Rainbow, with Amber the bearded dragon at the Marlpit Community Centre open day. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYLora Steggles of Angelica's Rainbow, with Amber the bearded dragon at the Marlpit Community Centre open day. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Alex Lee, with Poppy the Shetland pony dressed as a unicorn at the Marlpit Community Centre open day. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYAlex Lee, with Poppy the Shetland pony dressed as a unicorn at the Marlpit Community Centre open day. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)