Monday, April 11, 2005
St. Mellons Community Education Centre
The rumour circulating the estate that the Community Education Centre (CEC) is closing is untrue. The centre is the probably the best in Cardiff with an effective programme attracting the involvement of about 700 young people each year. There is a problem developing, however, which would need a lot more space than I have to explain in detail.
3 years ago the Council brought the two community buildings (CEC and "community hall") under Lifelong Learning management. Your Councillors agreed this to support Community Education in St. Mellons and because the alternative proposal meant charging the public to use the facilities.
Apparently the Councils’ Executive wants to place the building with Leisure, with the CEC staff working alongside Leisure staff. Luckily we found out about this plan, protested and requested consultation before a decision is made.
As a result there will be no visible change to the use of the building for 6-9 months while the Council consults with residents and Councillors.
The Council argues that the improvements to Cathcob Playing Fields, starting in summer, will mean the return of sport to St. Mellons and, therefore the building should be managed by Leisure. Your Councillors have also been pressing the Council to spend up to £1m on the building to upgrade and extend it which is obviously popular with sports groups in the area.
So we have a choice to make but it is not simply between community education or sport. We think it is possible to have both and improve the facilities and activities provided by the centre.
Even this would require some compromise on both sides and may mean the public paying to use the sports facilities. As the Council can take a decision without your Councillors’ agreement, it is important that residents take the opportunity offered by the consultation to make their views known.
Cllr. Monica Walsh
3 years ago the Council brought the two community buildings (CEC and "community hall") under Lifelong Learning management. Your Councillors agreed this to support Community Education in St. Mellons and because the alternative proposal meant charging the public to use the facilities.
Apparently the Councils’ Executive wants to place the building with Leisure, with the CEC staff working alongside Leisure staff. Luckily we found out about this plan, protested and requested consultation before a decision is made.
As a result there will be no visible change to the use of the building for 6-9 months while the Council consults with residents and Councillors.
The Council argues that the improvements to Cathcob Playing Fields, starting in summer, will mean the return of sport to St. Mellons and, therefore the building should be managed by Leisure. Your Councillors have also been pressing the Council to spend up to £1m on the building to upgrade and extend it which is obviously popular with sports groups in the area.
So we have a choice to make but it is not simply between community education or sport. We think it is possible to have both and improve the facilities and activities provided by the centre.
Even this would require some compromise on both sides and may mean the public paying to use the sports facilities. As the Council can take a decision without your Councillors’ agreement, it is important that residents take the opportunity offered by the consultation to make their views known.
Cllr. Monica Walsh
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I have just read your artical on your website about the st.mellons community education centre. I have lived in st.mellons all my life and i am very concerned about what is going on reguarding the (cec and community hall) as i have seen this building grow into something worth while to the local residents of trowbridge and st,mellons. This building was a leisure centre many years ago and it wasnt used by the residents then so why change it back when we have a perfectly good working community building running already?
Over 700 youths alone have used this building in the last year and thats without the older and younger generation, single parents like myself use this building to attend coarses in hope to better themselves and help them back into the work force.
I am also concerned that if this building turns back to leisure, we will be turning these youths onto the streets to commit crime and get into vandalism as many parents wont have the money to give there children to enter the leisure centre, im sure that you yourself wouldnt want to see this happen to our community, please help.
Over 700 youths alone have used this building in the last year and thats without the older and younger generation, single parents like myself use this building to attend coarses in hope to better themselves and help them back into the work force.
I am also concerned that if this building turns back to leisure, we will be turning these youths onto the streets to commit crime and get into vandalism as many parents wont have the money to give there children to enter the leisure centre, im sure that you yourself wouldnt want to see this happen to our community, please help.
# posted by 
: 12:59 pm
: 12:59 pm
How can you even think about taking away something that is so important to your local residents ???
# posted by : 1:02 pm
: 1:02 pm
I am not happy with the councils proposals to change St Mellons community centre back over to a leisure centre. These changes will effect a lot of people who currently use the centre at the moment. Going on the past history of the centre, the last time it was tried, to use it as a leisure facility it was closed down due to a lack of interest. My fears are the exact samething will happen this time. Therefore why change now as a lot of people are getting so much from it now
# posted by : 11:11 am
: 11:11 am
I have lived in st.mellons for the last 26 years and i am very happy with the standed of coarses and support that you get for the community education centre, my daughters have attened a few of the classes and they have gained so much from them, also alot of the younger generation use this building for after school clubs and you can only imagin what these children will be getting up to if these clubs were'nt provided, so were will they go and what will they be doing if this building changes to a leisure centre, as alot of parents struggle to make ends meet when it comes to money without haveing to pay for these facilities, don't you think these people stuggle enough as it is without taking away there only hope of a better future.
# posted by : 10:56 am
: 10:56 am
I have lived in St.Mellons for 22 years but have only been using the CEC for 2 years. My daughters aged 4yrs and 10 months attend the creche associated with the CEC which enables me to attend 3 courses and a parent group. I am charged only 50p per each time they attend which I and I'm sure a lot of other mum's would agree is very very reasonable. If the CEC is changed into a leisure centre we would have to pay for our courses which I for one would not be able to afford. My eldest daughter had benefited from the creche so much in the last 2 years, it prepared her for nursery and she has made a lot of friends through them aswell. So I ask on behalf of myself, my family and a lot of mum's and their families who do not have access to a computer and to this website please do not take away the CEC as it means a lot to so many people in St.Mellons and Trowbridge. Thank you.
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# posted by : 12:36 pm
: 12:36 pm << Home
