Community hall in Mudeford may close over lack of usage (From Bournemouth Echo)

Community hall in Mudeford may close over lack of usage

1:00pm Sunday 18th October 2009

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AN under-used community hall in Mudeford could be closed subject to the results of a potential public consultation.

Councillors on Christchurch Borough Council’s community services committee are to consider asking residents to look at options regarding the future of Mudeford Wood Community Centre.

The centre and neighbouring sports pitches currently cost the council £76,000 a year with the facilities only used around 34 per cent of the year and the sports pitches around 48 per cent.

With the opening of the new football pitches at the Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre, it is anticipated that the usage at Mudeford will decline further.

The options for the centre, which has suffered from vandalism and anti-social behaviour, include retaining and improving the facilities in Pipers Drive or close it and redevelop it for the benefit of the borough. But until a final decision can be made, local residents and other interested parties need to have their say.

Cllr Alan Griffiths, leader of the council said: “We need to decide whether it is acceptable for council tax-payers to keep subsidising a facility, which is not popular with local residents.

“We have already invested heavily in new sports pitches at Two Riversmeet Leisure Complex, as well as the tennis facility at Iford Bridge.

“There would be only a few current users of the centre who would be inconvenienced if it closed and we would do all we could to help them to relocate.

“The play group would be our main concern but nothing is likely to happen for the next few months and we would work with them in the meantime to find a suitable location with similar outgoings, if that’s necessary.”

The decision on a public consultation on the future of the centre will be taken on Wednesday.

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