Lewisham Park Centre Public Meeting Update



Lewisham Park Centre under threat of closure by Labour

 There was an excellent public meeting at Morley Town Hall last Thursday to discuss Labours proposed closure of the Lewisham Park Centre and Gildersome Youth Centre. Over 200 people turned up and spoke passionately about the work they do and the activities they provide for local children, young people and adults. Groups from both Lewisham and Gildersome attended and made it clear that they backed the campaign to prevent closure.

It is clear that both centres must stay open as they provide a valuable service within communities that suffers from significant deprivation. The work all groups do amounts to thousands of pounds of unpaid work providing positive opportunities to residents both young and old.

I have so much respect for those volunteers who are clear and cut through all the rhetoric when it comes to putting their case passionately about why both centres need to remain open.

The campaign is now running and objection letters are being completed and sent to the senior officers within the Council who will be making the final decision.

A Working Group has also been set up to come up with a long term plan to make sure both centres are sustainable and survive and thrive in the future. This could mean Community Groups taking over the buildings or asset transferring them to their local Town or Parish Councils.

This really is about people power and communities coming together to resist the excesses of a Labour Administration which is disinterested in and detached from the people in Morley and Gildersome.

I am very optimistic and believe this campaign will succeed. With the people behind us we cannot possibly fail and both Lewisham and Gildersome Centres will be providing the support communities need long into the future.