Residents urged to show support for community centre in bid to save it

RESIDENTS are being urged to show support for their local community centre in a bid to save it.  

Eastfield Community Centre, in Cambuslang, was originally set to close in April but has been thrown a lifeline after the management committee’s decision to apply for a Community Asset Transfer to take over ownership of the hall from South Lanarkshire Council.

It comes after the South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (SLLC) Board had to withdraw services from 28 community halls and other facilities and seven libraries due to a £7million funding gap for 2024-25.

Brian Loch, chair of Eastfield Community Centre management committee, and Carys Kelly, vice chair (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Carys Kelly, vice chair of the management committee of Eastfield Community Centre, says there was “uproar” when the decision was announced and right away they started to look at options to keep the centre open.

She said: “I think people were really shocked and we were completely flabbergasted by the news that we were going to be closed.

“As soon as we found out there was a potential for closure we were immediately looking at ways we could get around that

“We were like we need to sort this out, we need to try and fight and find a way for us to stay open.

“And we found out quite early on we could go through the Community Asset Transfer process so we’re now in the process of working with the council to apply to purchase the hall.”

(Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Thanks to a £1million Community Fightback Fund (CFF) that has been put in place by the council, no halls or libraries will be closed immediately, meaning the centre can hopefully stay open until ownership is transferred.

The centre is used by hundreds of local people and hosts a range of classes and groups such as dance classes, gardening, child development and support services for people with addictions.

Carys, who is also a dance teacher, said says the hall is an important place for the community.

Volunteer Harry Grier (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

The 26-year-old said: “We’re a thriving hall.

“We’ve got people of all ages, all backgrounds and we’ve got a lot of people that really reallty on our centre.

“There’s some people that come to our centre and it’s the only time in the week they get out.

“I think it’s just a great centre, we really are providing something for everybody.”

Janice Clark and Mary Cassidy, both with Enable Rutherglen who are service users at Eastfield Community Centre in Cambuslang. (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

She continued: “Even though we’re not necessarily providing specific mental health groups, people coming along to the centre improves mental health and there’s support groups and things like that.

“But from the council’s point of view they’ve a huge amount of money to try and make up and unfortunately this was just one of the things they felt they could cut because they don’t see it as an absolute essential.”

A survey has now been launched to demonstrate local people’s demand for the centre to support the Community Asset Transfer.

(Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Carys, who has lived in Cambuslang all her life, says so far people have been “delighted” at the news the centre will hopefully go into community ownership.

She added: “I think this will be a good opportunity to show what we can do.

“We’re really going to be able to take it to the next level.”

Volunteer Muriel Fleming pictured at the labyrinth created in the garden at Eastfield Community Centre in Cambuslang. (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

David Booth, executive director of Community and Enterprise Resources, said: “As part of the council budget agreed for 2024-24, arrangements were put in place to work with local communities on ways to mitigate the closure of any community halls.

“Whilst those discussions continue, all facilities remain open, thanks to the £1m Community Fightback Fund that was also agreed as part of the Budget.

“We, and South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (SLLC) will continue to work with local communities to develop reprovisioning options that will be best for their areas.”

You can access the survey for Eastfield Community Centre online HERE 

Printed copies of the survey are also available from the centre or Eastfield Lifestyles.

Alternatively, you can phone or text 07551 439622 with your address and a copy of the survey with a return address will be posted out to you.