Harold Hill is now sitting pretty on a windfall of almost £15million as it looks forward with optimism to an exciting 21st century.

Last week an amazing £6.4million was allocated to build a new swimming pool complex at Harold Hill. A further £350,000 has been given for a countryside centre and £8million for the New Horizons For Harold Hill scheme.

Yesterday Havering Council confirmed it will build the new swimming pool and complex next to the existing pool at Gooshays Drive in Harold Hill.

Harold's MP Keith Darvill has said he hopes the new complex will be accessible to everyone in the area.

He said the complex is just the job to tie in with the New Horizons scheme, which promotes healthy living.

"It is so convenient for Harold. Schools, voluntary groups and the disabled should make full use of it.

"And a scheme which would enable low income households to use it needs to be looked at."

Nature lovers were given good news on Monday when it was announced Harold's beauty spot at Bedfords Park is to receive a grant towards a new countryside centre.

The centre will enable Harold residents to get the most out of the natural history which lies on their doorstep.

Half of the funding for the Lower Bedfords Road park will come from The Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust, who are providing £175,000 as part of a range of plans to protect and improve the environment in the borough.

Finally, the New Horizons scheme, funded by a single regeneration budget which was awarded last July, will improve life on the Hill through a number of community projects over the next four years.

This week it was announced Harold residents will have a chance to celebrate the treble cash boost at a summer party in Central Park, Gooshays Drive.

New Horizons leaders are throwing what they are calling a "major event" to herald in public participation in the project - and symbolise a new era in Harold Hill.

Leaders say people will gain the finance and confidence to organise their own community projects from 2000/01 - and make the most of their lives.

Programme co-ordinator Clive Evenden said: "New Horizons hopes the efforts of the community to organise projects by themselves, through the skills they learn, will eventually provide people with better jobs too."

Brighter future: Harold's Labour MP Keith Darvill at the site of the proposed new complex.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.