VILLAGERS in Crawshawbooth are pleading with County Hall bosses not to close their community centre by enforcing excessive funding cuts.

Crawshawbooth Village Centre has become an important resource for the community just two years after a £500,000 extension transformed the Adelaide Street building.

But members are now fearful that the centre could close after seeing massive reductions to its funding and news of a consultation into the restructure of the Young People’s Services.

County Coun Hazel Harding, chairman of the community association, said: “We understand completely the pressures on council budgets but surely nobody would want to close a centre that has had so much public money invested in it and in which the people have invested so much human capital.”

A meeting held on Thursday to discuss the future of the 25-year-old centre had included representatives from all the groups that use it including pre-school, breakfast, after-school clubs, youth groups and older people’s groups.

Members agreed to unite to fight for the future of the centre and they are now appealing for anyone who values their work to take part in the consultation.

Alyson Barnes, association vice chairman, said: “The breakfast and after school clubs provide affordable child care that allows parents to work while many of the other groups, and the daily coffee bar help support people who might otherwise suffer social isolation.

“These are vital services. It is all about people supporting and helping each other but none of it could happen without the building.”

Anyone wanting to lend their support should call 01706 211001.