Copeland Centre may close

We heard yesterday, there is a good chance that the Copeland Community Centre, which is used by a number of U3A groups, will close at the end of March.
As you may know, the city council is pursuing a policy of unloading community centres onto local management groups, thus removing any financial burden of running these centres. Quite a few have already transferred, some happily, others after much arm-twisting.
The city council approached the management committee of Copeland to try to persuade them to take ownership and responsibility for the centre. There are issues with heating and subsidence and the committee refused without a substantial amount being spent to bring it up to standard.
A couple of weeks ago, without informing the management committee, the council invited tenders from any interested groups to take on the centre. This tender process is to end on March 30.
This so incensed the management committee that they have all resigned en masse with effect from the end of this month.
I guess this is likely to lead to the closure of the centre unless the council can make some interim agreement. Copeland is home to a number of Peterborough U3A groups - Spanish Language x 4, Science, Ukulele, Rummikub and Bridge. It is a valuable community asset, used extensively by U3A members, but also many other community groups, health services and commercial organisations. These include yoga, keep fit, community cafe, Peterborough Business Link and Diabetes Assessment Clinics.
The councillor with responsibility for communities is Irene Walsh (irene.walsh@peterborough.gov.uk).
It's a crying shame that such a useful asset might be lost by this short-sighted, penny-pinching policy. I would urge you to write to Coun Walsh asking her to do all she can to keep the centre open.

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