30 Dudley community centres facing axe

Up to 30 community centres in Dudley are under threat of closure as the council struggles to find £2.6million needed to upgrade the buildings, it was revealed today.

The money, to bring the old buildings up to legal standards, is 10 times the council's annual budget for community centres. Councillors will vote next week on whether to review the use and cost of council-run centres.

Council leader Anne Millward today admitted it could lead to a number of the centres being closed for good.

"It does seem likely that some will go," she said.

"That £2.6m is a lot of money - and it's money that a lot of authorities just aren't going to have. Things are going to be tight.

"Some centres are used very little, while others are used a lot. Some are in a bad state of disrepair.

"We need to find a way of working more effectively and more efficiently, and sharing community services - for example with the Primary Care Trust or other local authorities."

She said if councillors vote in favour of a review, the council would consult community groups on the future of the centres.

As well as the potential for closures, Councillor Millward said they might introduce leases for community groups who want to fund and run centres themselves.

She said "all options" will be considered.

Groups today spoke of the "great loss" the closures would be. Among those centres under threat is the Quarry Bank centre in Sheffield Street, where the Quarry Bank Operatics Society has met for 50 years.

Member Julia Siviter, 52, said: "These centres help keep the community together."

By Charlotte Cross