100 signatures reached
To: Duncan Whitehouse
Save Wilnecote Community Halls
Please do not sell the community rooms, they are an
important community asset and used by the Guides,
dance group and community groups.
The closure would have a detrimental
effect to the community, the service users and the
children and families of Tamworth.
important community asset and used by the Guides,
dance group and community groups.
The closure would have a detrimental
effect to the community, the service users and the
children and families of Tamworth.
Why is this important?
Our aim is to keep this building open for the community. We need to reach out the people of Wilnecote and beyond and show the council that there is a big need for the building to stay open for the community groups that already use it and all those that could use it in the future.
The Tamworth Herald recently covered the story and published the following:
A whole host of groups in Wilnecote have rallied together in a bid to keep a beloved building where it currently is – at "the heart of the community".
Earlier this year Staffordshire County Council revealed that the Wilnecote Community Centre was being sold and the site had been earmarked for a 'flexicare development scheme'.
It was agreed that community groups currently using the centre could continue to do so until the end of the year.
But now, members of groups including the 1st Wilnecote Guides and Attitude Performing Arts, which regularly use the building, have united to "save" the centre from being redeveloped – and keep it open to the community.
Protesters have launched a community organisation called The Wilnecote Arts Centre Ltd and are hoping to raise enough money to purchase the building and retain it for use by local social and community groups.
It is not yet known how much money the organisation would have to raise to secure the red-brick building.
Christine Harris, a guide leader with the 1st Wilnecote Guides, said: "This building is and always has been a community hub. It's the only hub left in the area. If it goes and is redeveloped we are going to have more isolation in the area and could have more anti-social behaviour because nobody will have anywhere to go."
"The amount of people who have joined together over this shows that there's a desperate need for it to stay as it is," added Wilnecote resident Christine.
The centre, in Tinkers Green Road, is also currently used by a social group for senior members in the community, by the Wilnecote Residents Association and by a social group for adult learners with disabilities.
Michala Hitchcock, an Attitude Performing Arts principal who has been involved in the organisation being established, said the centre "brings people together".
"What we're trying to do is get as many local people being able to do activities that enhance the community as possible," she said.
"We should be increasing participation in activities and improving people's quality of life and they are the kind of opportunities this building offers people."
A county council spokesman said the council will work with everyone interested in the future use of the building.
"This building formerly housed Tamworth Day Centre and Wilnecote Youth Centre and it has been included in a flexicare development programme because of the need for this type of facility in the area," he said.
"After the youth service moved out, it was agreed that local community groups would use that part of the building rather than it remain empty. This agreement will last until the end of 2015.
"A community group has lodged an interest in the future use of the building and the county council will continue to work with all interested parties throughout this process. An announcement on the building's future use will be made in the autumn."
Cllr Ian Parry, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, added: "In Staffordshire we want to ensure that we get the maximum benefits for communities and maximum value for taxpayers of every single county council owned building. As part of this, we have created a partnership to review sites, including those no longer in use, following a review of youth services in 2014."
The Tamworth Herald recently covered the story and published the following:
A whole host of groups in Wilnecote have rallied together in a bid to keep a beloved building where it currently is – at "the heart of the community".
Earlier this year Staffordshire County Council revealed that the Wilnecote Community Centre was being sold and the site had been earmarked for a 'flexicare development scheme'.
It was agreed that community groups currently using the centre could continue to do so until the end of the year.
But now, members of groups including the 1st Wilnecote Guides and Attitude Performing Arts, which regularly use the building, have united to "save" the centre from being redeveloped – and keep it open to the community.
Protesters have launched a community organisation called The Wilnecote Arts Centre Ltd and are hoping to raise enough money to purchase the building and retain it for use by local social and community groups.
It is not yet known how much money the organisation would have to raise to secure the red-brick building.
Christine Harris, a guide leader with the 1st Wilnecote Guides, said: "This building is and always has been a community hub. It's the only hub left in the area. If it goes and is redeveloped we are going to have more isolation in the area and could have more anti-social behaviour because nobody will have anywhere to go."
"The amount of people who have joined together over this shows that there's a desperate need for it to stay as it is," added Wilnecote resident Christine.
The centre, in Tinkers Green Road, is also currently used by a social group for senior members in the community, by the Wilnecote Residents Association and by a social group for adult learners with disabilities.
Michala Hitchcock, an Attitude Performing Arts principal who has been involved in the organisation being established, said the centre "brings people together".
"What we're trying to do is get as many local people being able to do activities that enhance the community as possible," she said.
"We should be increasing participation in activities and improving people's quality of life and they are the kind of opportunities this building offers people."
A county council spokesman said the council will work with everyone interested in the future use of the building.
"This building formerly housed Tamworth Day Centre and Wilnecote Youth Centre and it has been included in a flexicare development programme because of the need for this type of facility in the area," he said.
"After the youth service moved out, it was agreed that local community groups would use that part of the building rather than it remain empty. This agreement will last until the end of 2015.
"A community group has lodged an interest in the future use of the building and the county council will continue to work with all interested parties throughout this process. An announcement on the building's future use will be made in the autumn."
Cllr Ian Parry, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, added: "In Staffordshire we want to ensure that we get the maximum benefits for communities and maximum value for taxpayers of every single county council owned building. As part of this, we have created a partnership to review sites, including those no longer in use, following a review of youth services in 2014."
