Campaigners fight plans to close community centre

Jul 2 2009 by Debbie Spalding, West Lothian Courier

Campaigners launch public protest as they fight plans to close centre

SUPPORTERS of a community centre faced with closure say they will fight on to save their vital facility.

People in Dedridge say West Lothian Council is threatening to close Crofthead Community Education Centre within the next 12 months, to the detriment of over 1000 people who use it each week.

Campaigners say if the centre closes 18 groups will have to close or be relocated, there will be a lack of amenities, the cafe, garden centre and play area would be lost and other facilities in the area would also end.

And they have organised a meeting for later this month so people can have their say on the closure plans, along with a petition for supporters to sign.

Audrey Roberts, chair of the centre’s management committee, said losing the centre would be a great blow to the community.

She said: “The community centre has 18 groups, there are a couple of private lets, there is a cafe, which provides somebody with a job, and we have a nursery and play group.

“There is also a garden centre which would have to close as a result so there really is a lot that would be lost.

“We have heard lots of rumours that the area will be levelled to make way for social housing but you would then have all these new homes with no facilities.

“The council keeps telling us that it will take £1.6 million to refurbish the centre but won’t give us a breakdown of the figures so we could look at raising money or running parts of it ourselves.

“The value of the land is obviously more important than the community centre.”

A West Lothian Council spokesperson said no decision had been taken yet about the future of the centre.

“We are currently undertaking a review of our community centres and a considerable amount of funding is required to carryout the necessary renovations and repair work at Crofthead Community Centre.

“Given the current economic climate, we have a duty to fully investigate and assess all the options available to us.

“However, local residents can be assured that no final decision has been taken and we will continue to engage with them.”

A public meeting has been organised for Thursday, July 9 at 7pm, visit croftheadcommunitycentre.co.uk.