Community centres under threat from budget cuts (From The Northern Echo)

Community centres under threat from budget cuts

5:53pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Middlesbrough News

COMMUNITY centres could be handed over to users by a council that can no longer afford to pay for their upkeep.

Residents in Middlesbrough are urged to submit applications by the end of the month to save their centres.

The move is part of savings proposed by Mayor Ray Mallon to balance the £13.8m cuts imposed by the Government for the next financial year.

While some community buildings in the town will be sold and others demolished to make way for development, the council is encouraging community groups to take over and run venues.

They include Beechwood Youth and Community Centre, Brambles Farm Community Centre, Park End Community Centre, Mill Hill Recreation Pavilion, North Ormesby Pavilion and Thorntree Park Pavilion.

Applicants will need to demonstrate community support and the appropriate resources, knowledge and expertise to sustain the project in the long term.

Initial applications must be submitted by Wednesday, February 29, followed by detailed business plans with support and guidance from council officers.

Councillor Peter Purvis, who represents the Thorntree ward, said he believed its pavilion would be demolished if no interest was shown.

He said: "The reason why these community centres are being offered up is they are unsustainable and too expensive to run and manage for the use they get.

"If anybody is of a mind to take on Thorntree Pavilion, they should think long and hard about it. No one has approached me so far, but they are welcome to speak to me."

Mr Mallon said: "As our budget faces unprecedented cuts, the council can simply no longer provide many of the services which people have come to take for granted.

"There has been much said about the Big Society, but with the transfer of buildings to active community groups we will see that idea very much put into practice.

"These are not easy choices, but over the coming months I expect to see the creation of new community facilities which are run by local people for local people."

Visitmiddlesbrough. gov. uk /transfer