‘Life Centre’ gets £750k
PLANS to improve the community facilities in one of the town’s most financially neglected neighbourhoods have been greeted with delight.
A bid has been accepted by Crawley Borough Council’s Budget Advisory Group for £750,000 to be invested in Ifield West for a ‘Life Centre’.
The project will extend the existing community centre to include permanent youth facilities, dedicated medical consultation rooms and a community cafe.
The bid will be discussed at the council’s Cabinet meeting on February 8 before going to full council on February 29, where final approval is expected to be given.
Cllr Ali Burke has been the driving force behind the bid for the past two years and said she had already received expressions of interest from charitable organisations keen to work in partnership to provide the youth service.
She said: “I am also hoping that we will be able to galvanise the local community into providing the young people with some local volunteers - mums, dads, aunties, uncles - to give this a real community feel.”
A similar ‘community involvement’ option is being looked at by other town youth centres after West Sussex County Council slashed youth service funds in an attempt to make £79million of savings.
Cllr Burke added: “Ifield West has been neglected in terms of investment over the last 30 years. Since becoming a councillor I have been speaking with residents to see what facilities they would like to see for the area and how facilities could be improved. The response of the residents has been very positive.
“There was a significant request for facilities for teenagers such as a designated youth club and skate park.
“This is quite a list – but I am very excited and pleased that the £750,000 looks set to be awarded to this project to provide these much-needed facilities.
“As a councillor my job is to listen to residents and help wherever I can.”
Fellow Ifield Cllr Chris Oxlade said: “I’m delighted that Ali has secured this funding. I whole-heartedly support this investment for Ifield West. It’s long over due.”
Cllr Burke added: “The ‘Hyde Drive’ estate was built with the minimal facilities and was one of the reasons that I wanted to become a councillor for the area – it is about time that Ifield in general had its share of investment into local facilities.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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