The former home of the New Mills Heritage Centre is being given a new lease of life as a community hub.

Transition New Mills have taken on a three-year lease for the property on Rock Mill Lane, but it will very much be open to a wide variety of groups and organisations. 

Phil Frodsham, a member of the steering group, said Transition New Mills had been considering having a physical space for some time. 

He told the Chronicle: “Suddenly this building became available we knew what we wanted to go with it and approached the owner who liked what we were suggesting, and we signed a lease. It all happened very quickly.” 

The property provides a versatile space as it has a number of rooms, and it is hoped they will be utilised for meetings, training, and storage from a wide variety of community groups. 

“Although Transition New Mills have taken on the lease the idea is for it to become a community space for people to use.” 

With a physical base new projects can be started with the Library of Things set to be among the first to be created with the first donations already made. 

Instead of borrowing books the aim is to let people borrow items like pressure washers or lawn movers, household items and tools.  

It is good from an environmental and economic point of view with one item able to be used by multiple people rather than each person having an item they use only a few times a year. 

To kick start the Library of Things, Transition New Mills said they are delighted to have been successful in their grant application to High Peak Borough Council to purchase a thermal imaging camera. 

This will enable households to see where their home is losing heat during the colder periods of the year before going on to rectify those issues thus saving energy and money. 

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