COMMUNITY CENTRE DESPERATE FOR COUNCIL TO CONFIRM GRANT TO HELP RE-BUILD AFTER ARSON ATTACK (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

COMMUNITY CENTRE DESPERATE FOR COUNCIL TO CONFIRM GRANT TO HELP RE-BUILD AFTER ARSON ATTACK

July 25, 2008 12:04 PM

St Philips Community Centre sought help from Kirklees when there was a £33,000 shortfall in their insurance after an arson attack on their hall in Birchencliffe.

Following a visit to their Lib Dem Councillors in January 08, the Steering Committee went to Kirklees to apply for a grant to make up the sum needed to finish the Hall.

In March a business plan was submitted to the council and questions were answered satisfactorily. A Kirklees Officer assured the Committee they had a good case for funding and the group were encouraged to install an expensive extractor system to the kitchen to make the building more useful to the wider community.

But since then the centre's application has been left in limbo.

The Steering Committee telephoned the council at the end of May and was told that the bid would to go to Cabinet for decision "in two weeks time" but it did not appear on the agenda.

Cllr Christine Stanfield one of the two Lib Dem councillors in Lindley ward who are involved says:

"The hall is due to open in September, and the Steering Group have no idea where the money to finish the building will come from if Kirklees was to refuse the grant at this late stage. I feel that the whole Birchencliffe community has been badly let down. The lack of communication on the council's part has been frustrating for all involved. The group should have an apology and their grant paid immediately. Birchencliffe has been without its hall for long enough."

To add insult to injury, the Steering Group - plus the Rev Mary Raildon-Crowder - were invited to attend Huddersfield North's Area Committee recently to hear the application for chairs for the hall, but were then not told when the venue was changed.