A RESIDENTS’ group campaigning to keep a community flat open has been overwhelmed by public support.
The Victoria Park Residents Association (VIPRA) was delighted with the response to their campaign stall to support the local Community Flat on Knutsford Road, Warrington.
More than170 people signed the petition to support community facilities in the area, following the announcement by Golden Gates Housing Trust that they are to close the flat. Several people also came forward to volunteer to help support the activities going on in the flat.
At the present time there are very few community facilities in the area, which makes community activity difficult. The flat is the nerve centre of the Victoria Park Residents Association, and as well as the various activities on offer – including computer training, arts and crafts, the credit union, police drop-ins and councillor surgeries – it is a place where people can turn for information and advice.
At an emergency meeting held at the flat Golden Gates remained firm about their decision, citing costs, housing need, the limited space available and a lack of participation as the reasons for their decision. However, they promised to work with VIPRA officers to find viable alternatives in the area, and support a move to a new different venue.
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin (Labour, Latchford West) who helped to organise the stall, along with local residents and Labour supporters, said: “What we are most concerned about is that the little support residents have in the area may be taken away. GGHT have now promised that they will give financial and advisory support to help identify a suitable alternative, and I welcome this approach. However, we need to be sure that any alternative will be acceptable to the local residents. I am currently working with Council Officers to explore all possible alternatives and I am seeking a meeting with Roy Smith, Chair of GGHT Board and Peter Mercer Chief Executive of GGHT to discuss the decision further.”
Members of the Kent Street Mission attended the emergency meeting and pledged to support local residents when the new building is open to the public early next year. St Hilda’s Mission have also offered assistance to VIPRA and there may be other alternatives.
Ken Wormald Vice Chair of VIPRA said: “The turn-out and interest was far greater than we had anticipated and it only goes to show that when local people are made fully aware of what they may lose they come forward and show they are still interested’’.
Pictured from left to right: Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, Frances Ireland, Stephen Price, Les Morgan, Ken Wormald.
Campaign to save community flat
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
2 Comments
Notice that the Lib-Dem councillor is not there.
The whole of Latchford West lacks a Community building. It does make one wonder what is going on with the council, as first of all they failed to support Latchford West Community Forum and closed that down, and now they are doing the same with the only remaining group that represents the Community.
It seems that our Council simply wants to waste money that it has not got! Did it not raise to the ground a community facility on Knutsford Road and no it wants to do the same with as much smaller facility. I do hope that Latchford West is successful in retaining its community facility. These facilities are very cost effective and ought to be supported by our Council.