Community Centre Update From Councillor Pegg

[Andy Millne]

BEDLINGTON COMMUNITY CENTRE

UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR ARTHUR PEGG

Contrary to what you may have read in the media there is no intention of closing Bedlington Community Centre. You can rest assured that I am working very hard to ensure that the facility remains open.

I write this note to inform you of the current position regarding the attempts to have the Centre remain open. First, negotiations are taking place to appoint some person or some organisation to take on the running of the Centre. At the moment there are two such organisations who are interested in running the Centre.

The negotiations are complex with regard as to how the owner of the Centre would be willing to allow the facility to be leased – obviously each side wanting the best deal possible. Northumberland County Council is fully aware of the tight deadline and is therefore making every effort to complete things as soon as possible.

On top of this complication there is also the question as to who should own the Centre in the future. Should it remain in the hands of the County Council or should the Town Council take on the ownership and all of the responsibility that that entails?

So you can see with so many things to consider an immediate solution is not possible. Once the details have been worked out, to the satisfaction of all those involved, then an announcement will be made as to the way forward for Bedlington Community Centre.

The County Council is an open and transparent Authority and as far as the Town Council is concerned it will not take on ownership of the Centre without due consideration of all of the consequences.

In the past the Centre has not been run on a strict commercial basis but this must change in the future so that it becomes self sustaining. It is regarded as the 'hub' of the town and should continue to be so.

If you have any queries/questions/concerns regarding the above then please contact me as below.

Cllr Pegg

Tel 01670 534041 0r 01670 823963

Email: Arthur.Pegg@northumberland.gov.uk