A NEWLY refurbished community centre has been renamed in memory of popular former council leader Allan Burgess.

The historic Corner House, in Grove Park, will be rechristened the Allan Burgess Centre during a special ceremony this afternoon (Wednesday) to mark the near completion of months of renovation work.

The move has been welcomed by friends and constituents of the former policeman, who died of cancer in April aged 76 after representing Wanstead ward for nearly 20 years.

The father-of-three was widely respected for his tireless campaigning on behalf of residents - most memorably his fight to get compensation for people affected by the construction of the M11 link road during the 90s.

Joanne Smart, of Chaucer Road, said renaming the Corner House was a fitting tribute to a 'deeply principled man.'

She said: "He was a modest chap, but I think he would have appreciated the gesture.

"Wanstead has a lot of elderly people, and he did a huge amount to support our causes, so this is quite fitting.

"He was a principled man and that's why people respected him."

The Corner House has stood empty - and almost derelict - for nearly four years after the Age Concern lunch club moved out in 2005 because it was deemed unsuitable for disabled users.

The lunch club will now move back into the ground floor of the house - which was lived in by squatters in 2006 - with the upstairs used as private office and residential space.

A council spokeswoman said: "Plans are underway to use the centre for various projects and services to support the local community.

"These include, in the near future, the relocation of the Age Concern services which were relocated to the Old Fire Station, in Wanstead Place, during the renovation."