Hundreds of users of closure-threatened Walsall outdoor centres have been given fresh hope of saving them after council bosses gave the service a stay of execution.
Walsall Council’s cabinet deferred a decision on axing the subsidy of more than £100,000 it has been providing to keep the service of the outdoor pursuit going at a meeting on Wednesday (October 23).
But when news of the proposal emerged, users of Aldridge Airport and Sneyd Water activity centres reacted with dismay at the potential loss of the service. The council said it could not afford to continue funding the service but paused the decision to allow for further consultation with users and seek an alternative provision – such as the community taking over the centres.
Campaigners said they were grateful that the authority had listened to their concerns. Parent Jo Yarnall, whose 16-year-old daughter Hannah has special needs and uses Aldridge Airport, said: “I know this is a pause button on the decision, but at least that’s better than the play button. I’m really pleased that the councillors have listened and heard the voice of people that have contacted them. It just gives us a little bit more time to look at more detail about the centres and about how they are being used. They are clearly not being used enough. Certainly, in Aldridge where I come from, people are saying they didn’t realise they could hire the place out or that it even existed. So, I think there needs to be some work done on publicity. So can the community help and come up with ideas to save the facility because I do think it’s going to be a great loss. For my daughter, I don’t know of any other facilities in Walsall that can provide her with a chance to do the things other children do because they have specialist provision there.”
Retired headteacher and SEND advocate Andy Summers said: “I really appreciate the response of council on this issue which was speedy and appropriate. It is about making sure that those people who have said they are concerned about this decision do ensure they are involved in helping advise some future reaction because of course children and their needs do not go away. But I do understand the realities that we are facing.”
Councillor Garry Perry, portfolio holder for community, leisure and culture said less than 2,000 people used the centres each year and it cost the authority £50 a head to subsidise. He added the decision was initially taken by the previous administration in 2015/16 but measures to operate it at zero-subsidy – including finding an outside provider – had not been successful. He said: “The item has been withdrawn. It is right and proper to do so. We are open to any further ideas or information that the community may wish to provide that could assist us to move forward to look at something that we may not have thought of. I’ve seen examples where the impact assessment has been tested but its a very live and ongoing situation which is why it makes sense to take stock and pause where we are in that process to not only engage further with the community but to listen to their views and ideas. The report will come back to cabinet in December, which will set out further recommendations on the basis of that engagement.”
Council leader Mike Bird added: “It is a pause button. It is not going to go away. We cannot afford to subsidise £50 per user now and into the future when that figure grows. However, it is right and proper that we defer this until we take a further look at it. It’s not going to survive as it is, so let’s look at a different way of doing it.”
And Tim Wilson, portfolio holder for children’s services, said he wanted service users to be consulted with, particularly to look at alternative provision. He said: “We are listening, we are pausing and are going to reflect on this decision and come forward with hopefully other options and I’m pleased the people of Walsall are being given the chance to help us save this provision in whatever format it is kept in.”
Article originally appeared on Birmingham Live
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