Labour Councillor Sophie Howe today criticises Whitchurch Conservative Councillors and AM Jonathan Morgan for deliberately mis-leading the public about the future of Whitchurch Community Centre.
In a local newsletter and via the South Wales Echo yesterday the Tories claimed that they had secured £713k for a new community centre and implied that this would fund a new centre on the site of the existing centre.
Labour Ward Councillor Sophie Howe has revealed that Conservative Councillors received advice from Council bosses almost a year ago stating that a re-build on the same site was not a viable option as there was no funding available for it and that they have accepted that and have given Council officers authorisation to explore other options including a partnership with Bethal Baptist Church. In an e-mail to all Whitchurch Ward Councillors yesterday Chief Leisure and Libraries Officer, Trevor Gough expressed concern about local newsletters which had been delivered by the Tories and said:
"an impression has been created that the funding will be used to refurbish the existing building and I am writing to clarify the position as I understand it. Our extensive discussions (with all Councillors) of various options had already discarded that one in preference to others, particularly the Bethel Hall refurbishment. I have also been advised that the 2007/08 budget funding commitment is contingent on a capital receipt from the sale of the existing site in due course and I have consistently advised (all Councillors) that I believe that this would be the case."
Labour Councillor Sophie Howe said:
"Many people have contacted me to express concern about the misleading comments in the Conservative local newsletter and in their statement to the Echo. In my view that is a shameful and deliberate attempt to mislead the public about the future of the centre in Whitchurch when the Conservative Councillors and AM know only too well that the funding allocated in the budget is contingent on the sale of the existing community centre land. To claim the credit for securing funding without telling people the real facts is local politics at its worst."
She continued:
"It is cleat that urgent action needs to be taken to deal with the community centre which is in a terrible state and all Councillors have been involved in the discussion so far. What the people of Whitchurch want is an honest and open discussion about the future of the community centre and they want assurances that they will have a first class provision in Whitchurch. I am committed to ensuring that this happens and that ultimately we get a centre we can be proud of."
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