Save Dursley Community Centre (From Gazette Series)

Save Dursley Community Centre

A DURSLEY community centre that is a lifeline to pensioners and young mothers is under threat of being lost.

The Gazette today urges readers to help save the centre by stepping forward and volunteering their services.

Unless its committee gets a new chairman, secretary and treasurer - roles that require little more than one or two evenings work a month - the centre could be forced to close.

A veteran volunteer from Dursley and District Community Association, which runs the centre, said a crucial annual general meeting on April 24 could be the last unless local people step forward to offer their services.

Lawry Hearle, 87, who has been involved with the association for over 30 years, said: "A crisis point is looming at the forthcoming AGM.

"Unless it is attended by a substantial number of new members and a chairman and executive have been elected legally, it cannot continue to operate. This is laid down in the constitution by the Charity Commission."

"This is a most important and critical meeting."

Closure would prove a terrible blow for groups such as Surestart, a parent support group and the Friday Lunch Club for the Frail and Elderly which use the centre as a meeting point.

The association and community centre are currently run by Dursley Town Mayor Cllr Jane Ball, who is filling most of the vacant roles alone along with her husband Arthur.

Problems have arisen because retiring committee members have not been replaced by new volunteers.

Cllr Ball said: "We need to get people involved. It's a busy and thriving community centre and won't require a lot of hard work from volunteers.

"We always welcome new people on the committee and value their input and fresh ideas."

Mr Hearle, who recently received the Leslie D Gale award from Dursley Town Council (see page 11), said the burden must be taken off Cllr Ball's shoulders.

He added: "It is up to the citizens of Dursley who want to see the centre continue functioning to come forward.

"In this day and age, volunteers are hard to come by - but the population of Dursley has increased substantially. There has been an influx of younger professional people, from whom there must be some capable of preventing the centre from closing."

His campaign has received the backing of Dursley and District Probus Club which meets at the centre.

Tony Powell, secretary at the club, said: "We us the centre twice a month for meetings, which are usually attended by 45-50 men.

"The facilities are extremely good and the centre provides an economical base for local groups and associations.

"Volunteers would be doing the local area a lot of good. The centre provides an economical base for lots of clubs which would be forced to move to more expensive premises."

Mr Hearle is appealing for people to help save the centre by attending the association's annual meeting on Monday, April 24 (7.30pm) at the community centre and the Gazette is backing the call for the Dursley community to rally round and save this lifeline centre.

For more information on how to help call 01453 543355.