Community Centre Summit - the way ahead.




Lewisham Park Centre

 I met with local community centre users and Morley Borough Independent Councillor colleagues to explore plans to prevent the threatened closure of two community centres in the Morley area proposed by Labour Leeds City Council. Community Centre Groups, who use the threatened centres at Lewisham Park and Gildersome Youth Centre, agreed a way ahead with us to look at delivering a sustainable future for both centres.

My colleague Cllr Wyn Kidger confirmed that the Lewisham Park Centre does excellent work with children, young people and the disabled and it is essential we find a way to keep the centre open. Our discussions explored the option of the local groups taking over the centre. This would provide a positive solution as the Centre would be better used and more revenue brought in to support it.

Lewisham Park Centre users will now meet with Leeds City Council officers to explore the options for a community take-over of the building which will cut costs as well as increase usage at the Centre.

My ward colleague Cllr Bob Gettings confirmed that the Groups using the Youth Centre in Gildersome were keen to explore the options of transferring to Gildersome Community Centre on Town Street but that would probably require an extension to accommodate all groups.

It was agreed that Gildersome Community Groups would form a plan of what accommodation they need and to explore the potential for extending the Meeting Hall with planners and Outer South Area Committee staff.

We are looking for a commitment from Labour Leeds City Council that funds which might be generated from the sale of the Youth Centre would be used to improve and extend the Meeting Hall. This would provide the savings Labour Leeds City Council are looking for and all the groups presently using the Youth Centre would be accommodated in an extended Meeting Hall.

We will be meeting senior Council staff over the next two to three weeks to explore the options of delivering long term future plans for both centres. We must do all we can to prevent Labour Leeds City Council closing these important centres that support such great work across all our communities.