The future of three community centres is up for discussion by Preston City Council’s cabinet on Wednesday.
AdvertisementA report outlines how Grange, Tanterton and Farringdon Park community centres are currently at risk of vandalism and break ins.
The three centres were shut down in May last year after Signposts – the group who previously ran the centres – went bust.
Since May this year the council has been responsible for the centres, costing over £23,000 – including the costs of repairs after two break-ins at Grange Community Centre.
Now council officers are set to enter into negotiation with Grange Primary School and Tanterton Action Group over operating two of the centres.
The Primary School want to use the centre as a nursery school, paying £4,000 for repairs and a rent of £5,000 per year would be paid to the city council.
In Tanterton the community action group required the council to undertake £10,500 worth of repairs and stump up a grant of £35,700 over five years to run the centre.
The Action Group wish to use volunteers to staff the centre and use a £13,000 grant from the Neighbourhood Council to help fund the building.
Councillor Bill Shannon, who is on the board for the Tanterton group, told the Lancashire Evening Post: “We are very hopeful, we are pleased with the report.
“What we had put in for was a long term proposal with a business plan to run over a number of years, what they are giving us is a year’s probation.”
If approved by cabinet, the funds allow the community group to operate for 12 months at Tanterton to see whether they can run a viable community centre.
However in Farringdon the council has concerns about a bid from the Residents Association of Farringdon and Thirlmere to take over the building.
It was recently rejected from being listed as a community asset and the council are worried the group does not have the skills, funding or experience to manage the building.
You can read the full report on the council website and it will be considered by cabinet at the Town Hall on Wednesday 18 December from 6pm.
Do you live in any of the areas affected by the community centre closures? What do you think about the proposals? Let us know in the comments below