RESIDENTS of Oakdale in Poole are being urged to save their community centre.

The Oakdale Residents Community Association (ORCA) is calling for support after the Borough of Poole's draft Local Plan, which sets out the council's preferred development sites for up until 2033, designated the Oakdale Partnership Centre for possible future housing.

Currently, the Oakdale Community Partnership Centre is home to Skills and Learning: Bournemouth-Dorset-Poole, a community cafe and a room that can be used by local groups.

After the first draft of the Poole Local Plan was published, last year, ORC commissioned a survey of Oakdale residents to find out what they thought of community facilities in the area. This survey received responses from almost 200 residents, ORCA said.

ORCA chairman Deb Plant said: "Based on the survey findings, we believe there is a role for ORCA to play in creating a long-term vision for a community centre at the heart of Oakdale.

"We recognise that this is likely to be tied up with any redevelopment of Oakdale Community Partnership Centre site.

"However, if there is to be development, we believe this would create an opportunity to better integrate community activities and services at the heart of Oakdale.

"We are now looking to recruit new trustees to help us develop such a vision."

Key findings in the ORCA-commissioned survey included a need for more community activities and a quality centre in Oakdale to host them; showed 90 per cent of respondents felt a community facility in Oakdale was important; and found just one in four respondents were currently satisfied with the availability of local activities and services.

If you want to get involved in ORCA, or are interested in becoming a trustee, contact ORC secretary Lesley Kerley on 01202 269 353.