Some of you may have read an article in the Nottingham Post on Friday about the closure of the Youth Club and Community Centre. The Parish Council recently put a statement on the website – see below.
Most of the article is taken from the recent statement made by the Parish Council on the website on the closure of the Youth Club and Centre. However, there are two paragraphs in the middle which state that the Parish Council are proposing to close the Village Hall and St. Peter’s Rooms. I need to make it clear that this statement is not true and did not come from any official Parish Council source. Nor did the Nottingham Post check this statement with any official Parish Council source.
There are, as yet, no firm proposals. Some possibilities are being considered but none have been agreed. Indeed, official discussions are yet to be held with the County Council about the possibility of the Youth Centre being used for community use. It is hoped that a meeting will be held in the next few weeks. Until then (and possibly not even then) nothing firm can be said.
The Parish Council is looking to provide improved facilities for the community as economically as possible.
Allen Wood
Original Parish Council Statement
Youth Club and Community Centre Closure
Ruddington Parish Council has been looking at all of its assets with a view to ensuring that it spends the Council Tax it receives in the most efficient way whilst catering for as many facets of village life as possible. The survey of residents identified that there are activities that local people would like which are not able to be provided at our current facilities.
Many of our buildings have been loved and cherished over a long period of time but both St. Peter’s Rooms and Village Hall are showing signs of age. The Village Hall in particular lacks some of the modern facilities expected by existing and potential hirers.
As a result of the County Council decision to close the Youth Club and Community Centre in Ruddington from September 2014 an opportunity may arise which enables the Parish Council, potentially together with other partners from the community, to have use of this site when it becomes vacant. This may enable the existing users to remain and the site could become, over time, the main Community Centre in the village providing an increased range of facilities for Ruddington.
It is important that our village has facilities that are fit for purpose and of which we are proud. This will require vision by the community as a whole. It may be a once in a lifetime opportunity and we believe it would be foolish not to provide facilities fit for the foreseeable future.
It is emphasised that, as things stand at present, no Parish Council facilities would be withdrawn until a replacement was available. We will keep you informed as any news is available.