School Backs Community Centres

As Chair of Governor's at Ashmore Park Nursery School and The Park's Children Centre, I have written to the City Council concerning the proposals to limit or curteil Community Centres in Wednesfield. Here is the letter that has been sent to the Authority

Dear Sir

I write to support the really great job that Ashmore Park Community Centre does for our community. As Chair of Governors at Ashmore Park Nursery School and The Park's Children Centre I know that we would struggle to put on all the activities we are currently involved in if the community centre was to be axed or its times reduced.

We have a super relationship with the Community Centre Management and it is this partnership that allows the development of our activities locally.

Any diminution of the facility would impact on the arrangements we currently make, and that would send shock waves through the parents and the families that currently enjoy the facilities the school provides.

All of the Groups are doing well and replenishing naturally. We have weekly groups that we run for parents and children at Ashmore Park Community Centre. These include Speech and language programmes, Baby Massage and First Aid training. The School& the Children's Centre use the Community centre almost every day.

Long Knowle Community Centre is also used by our facility we have parents attending with their children. The Centre has approached the Governors through the professional staff to run some other of our courses there in the New Year. The Parks Children Centre management is considering this request. Again the loss of such a community centre in this part of Wednesfield would cause the Governors and the management of the Children's Centre much concern. As it would limit what we can offer the Long Knowle Community through our out reach programme to parents and young children.

I do hope that you will give deep consideration to any proposal to limit Community Centre use and balance any proposal against the potential damage to the wider community.

Yours sincerely
Phil Bateman MBE FCILT
Chair of Governors
Ashmore Park Nursery and Children's Centre.

Any loss of these community centres would be difficult to overcome for the community.