Silsden community centre plans ‘will not be competition’ (From Craven Herald)
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Silsden community centre plans ‘will not be competition’
8:00am Saturday 6th October 2012 in News
A proposed new community centre in Silsden Park would not compete with other local facilities, says a town councillor.
Adrian Naylor has pledged that the sports-oriented hall would complement other community buildings in the town.
He said the focus would be on groups that used the park - including soccer, rugby and bowling clubs - but other groups would be welcome.
Coun Naylor spoke as plans for the centre moved forward with discussions about potential funding and possible uses.
The community centre - which would cost around £600,000 - would replace rundown buildings currently used by the sports clubs.
The town council is developing the Silsden Park proposal as part of a strategy to improve community facilities in the town.
A separate proposal, led by Bradford Council and involving several community groups, involves a £300,000 refurbishment of the town hall.
The work would be funded from the sale of the current Silsden Library building, in nearby Wesley Place, with the library moving into the town hall.
Town councillors have expressed concern about the rival plan, claiming the future uses of all the buildings should be looked at together.
Coun Naylor and town mayor Chris Atkinson have held several meetings with groups that use Silsden Park and have looked at potential sources of money.
One possible funding source is a recently announced Sport England grant scheme.
Coun Naylor said: “We have been taking a strategic look at how the building would fit into other assets in Silsden.
“We’ve identified that this facility will not be in competition with any other facility in Silsden but will complement it.
“We need to know how this fits into Silsden’s needs, not just now but for the next generation.”
Town councillors say the building could offer refreshment facilities for sports fixtures and toilets for park users.
Coun Atkinson said: “We’re wanting to get a community centre-type building for the whole community, not just sports.”
When the Silsden Park plans were revealed last summer, councillors spoke of a two-storey L-shaped building with a mini sports hall, function room, toilets and changing rooms.
