Politicians oppose closure of Halfway Recreation Centre

Feb 3 2010 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

SOUTH Lanarkshire Council are to press ahead with their plans to close the Halfway Recreation Centre.

Despite strong opposition to the closure, the local authorite are pressing ahead with the move, which they say will save them £43,000 a year.

The facility, popularly called the Sporty by local residents, is used by several groups, including RegenFX and the Phoenix Thai Boxing Club.

It is also the base for a number of police projects such as Move the Goalposts, aimed at stopping anti-social behaviour.

But the council said: “Halfway Recreation Centre is an old building in poor condition where usage is low. The proposal is to close the facility and look to displace lets to other facilities.”

But Rutherglen Labour MSP James Kelly has hit out at the decision.

He said: “There’s a lot of support in the local area for the Sporty to be retained and I’m also aware that work has gone on to try and establish other users for it.

“The need for sports facilities within the Halfway area remains a priority for me.

“Bearing in mind the support in the area for this facility, I would ask the council to reconsider the closure plan for this important facility.”

Rutherglen MP Tommy McAvoy has also previously voiced his opposition to the closure, telling the Reformer last year: “I am opposed to the closure of the Halfway Recreation Centre as it is not a genuine efficiency, but is in reality a service cut.”

But one angry local man, who asked not to be named, said: “If they are making a saving, where is the worker going?

“And won’t this add to the wage bill of another centre, creating an overspend to the centre he goes to? It doesn’t make sense considering there are three very successful clubs, Thai boxers, play services and the street dance with 75 kids attending.”

Saving another £80,000 is the closure of King’s Park Library.

The report said: “Education resources is currently embarking on a review of library services throughout South Lanarkshire. As part of this review is has been identified that the lease for King’s Park library expires in February 2010.

“The proposal is to close the library as alternative accommodation has not been found and the library is situaed less than one mile from Rutherglen Library.”

The council will also save £6000 by axing a payment to the voluntary sector.

The COJAC befriending and day care service in Castlemilk is accessed by Rutherglen/Cambuslang service users, but South Lanarkshire say these service users could access alternative services available locally.

South Lanarkshire also propose to amalgamate SoLVE (the South Lanarkshire volunteering network) with the Hamilton and East Kilbride Community Voluntary Service and Create, the community engagement and community voluntary service body for Rutherglen and Cambuslang, saving £40,000.

Manager Heather Petrie explained: “We’re going to be forming a brand new company, bringing together three existing organisations.

“We already do a lot of partnership work with the other organisation.

“We’ve only held initial discussions so far and an interim board is being put together, who have met once already.

“But people shouldn’t worry as they will continue to get their services from us, and with the three organisations coming together, we’ve going to be able to go further afield in South Lanarkshire.”