Petition over resource centre future
A former respite care unit once earmarked for a library and community centre is to close, its devastated users said today.
Plans to convert Wolverhampton's Warstones Resource Centre were scrapped last year after the city council failed to find a partner for the scheme.
And now the people who use the centre, off Warstones Gardens, say they have been told to find new homes for activities. A leading councillor said she, too, has been told it's closing. A petition has been set up and 200 people have signed it, saying there is nowhere else in the area offering similar services.
More than 20 people who attend a painting club and computer classes at the site say they were told to find a new home by council officers at a meeting.
And Wolverhampton's Tory leader, Councillor Wendy Thompson, said: "The council is looking to close it. There are some voluntary groups using it and it is very important they are looked after because they provide for a number of residents who see these services as an important social outlet."
Bill Baugh runs the 20-strong painting club that meets twice a week. He said: "We were invited to a meeting last week with the officers from the council and they were talking about closing the centre and transferring us elsewhere. But there are no other community buildings of a similar size around here.
I have got a petition up and running and on Saturday 200 people signed it."
The proposals are due to be discussed by the council's cabinet this week.
