'Prepare to fight over centres' urges activist

Published 10 Dec 2009 10:30 5 Comments

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By Ewan McInnes

THERE are fears that two of the town's popular community centres are set to close.

Phil Traish, of the Renfrewshire Anti Cuts Committee, contacted the Barrhead News to warn of the possible closures of the Dalmeny and Auchenback community centres and of the East Renfrewshire Council registration office in Lowndes Street.

As the council struggles to balance its finances, Phil is concerned they will look to chop vital public services and he wants Barrhead residents to oppose these potential closures.

He said: "There are a load of cuts going to be made and this is going to be the start of it.

"The Dalmeny Community Centre (DCC) like the one in Auchenback is the lifeline of the place and the registration office has been there for many years and if it closes we will have to start using the one in Eastwood.

"The council will turn round and say there has been no decision made but you don't fight things like this after a decision has been made - you do it before.

"We are urging tenants to prepare themselves for this and to lobby their councillor.

"We believe these cuts to council services in East Renfrewshire will continue unless local community organisations organise to oppose these cuts in our communities. It is appalling that no public consultation has been held prior to these proposals being made."

A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council said they have been forced into making cuts across all services and are currently looking at the ways which are the most effective.

He said: "The money we spend on services comes from the hard earned cash of our residents.

"Most of our money is spent on salaries and properties and we are facing difficult financial times.

"We've had a redundancy trawl to reduce our salary costs and will need to look at properties across the whole area.

"We will work hard to get the balance right between balancing the books and continuing to deliver excellent public services.

"But readers should be clear that no decisions have been taken on any specific properties at all."

Brian Connelly of the Auchenback Resource Centre (ARC), which is completely separate from the Auchenback Community Centre (ACC), wanted to make it clear that although the centre in Blackburn Square may be under threat the ARC is not.

He said: "The council can't shut this centre because it is a community building, we only get core funding from the council.

"All they could do is stop the funding but they couldn't close it.

"I can reassure residents that the ARC will definitely not be closing and we are making plans for next year.

"We don't rely on the council but we work in conjunction with them."

The ACC is situated in Blackburn Square, the DCC on Barnes Street and the registration office is located on Lowndes Street.

Community centres are considered essential to their communities as they provide residents with an outlet for socialising and learning new skills.

The registration office is used by thousands of people in the town to register births, marriages and deaths.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 09 Dec 09

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

June
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Dec 13, 15:48
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Once again East Renfrewshire Council are starting to make cuts at the bottom of the pile with the COMMUNITY centres and not at the top with overpaid staff,

The Registration office, which is used by everyone in the community from Barrhead and Neilston.stop this happening.

How can East Renfrewshire Council be in discussion about closures about their own properties and justify continueing to give core funding as described in the article to a private company of directors so how much core funding do they give to this centre as I note this was omitted from the statement made Brian Connelly.

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Ben Stuart
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Dec 14, 15:08
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I can't believe this is the first we have heard of this. Thanks to Phil Traish for brining this to community's attention because otherwise East Renfrewshire Council would just come in on the sly and close it. Shocked and stunned!

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Brian McGregor
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Dec 14, 15:10
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Everyones always saying there is not enough of a sense of community these days. Well that is probably because any time there is any community, the councils come along and shut things down and stop people from getting together. they should get their priorities straight and understand its centres like these that make all the difference to the lives of many people, they keep them out of trouble, help them learn new skills meet like-minded people, it helps with physical and mental health. i hope everyone lobbies their councillors and helps keep these places open.

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Christine Brown
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Dec 14, 15:18
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This is typical of the council, they wonder why we have a problem with anti social behaviour but they close everywhere young people can go to take part in activities. No wonder the kids hand around the streets - they have nowhere else to go.There really is no sense of community anymore.

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James McKay
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Dec 14, 15:31
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Why do the council continue to make cuts that hit our community in a negative way.

They take these places away from us but make little to no effort in building community spirit.

I'd like to know if the council appreciates the negative affect it is having on the residents and how they will make sure we can still have the slightest sense of community after this.

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