Campaign takes off for new centre

8:47pm Wednesday 2nd July 2008

A GROUP of women launched its campaign to convert a closing primary school into a community centre with a fun day.

Westhoughton County Primary in Central Drive is due to close at the end of the year because of falling pupil numbers.

Now five community-spirited residents have set up an action group, Westhoughton Active Communities Organisation (WACO), in a bid to take over the space as a community centre.

A community day with bouncy castles was held to raise their campaign's profile.

Janet Colley and Gaynor Ratcliff, who work for Westhoughton Community Learning Centre, which is on the same site as the school, came up with the idea for the community centre.

They were joined by Lisa Colley, Maureen Taylor and Marilyn Holmes.

Janet Colley said: "This building was a community centre before Bolton Community College took it over for classes. There are lots of empty sites in Westhoughton, but this is a brilliant site - the layout of the building is perfect for community use, it's very central, it has good parking and good transport links, and it's next to the community college.

"Westhoughton has grown in recent years but it has very little sense of community left. We want to create a sense of belonging with people in the town."

They want to convert the school into a modern space for Westhoughton residents as the town's only community centre, the John Holt Centre in the Washacre estate, is too small.

Ms Ratcliff said: "There are so many community groups in this town that would benefit from a proper base and the support that a community centre could offer."

WACO wants to provide a meeting room for voluntary and community groups, a family room and training facilities. And, if it was successful, it would expand to include computers, a library and cafe.

Cllr John Higson, who represents Westhoughton North and Chew Moor, has supported the project.

He said: "There is obviously a need for a community centre in Westhoughton. It is excellent that there are people in the community so committed to creating one. They have worked very hard to get a proposal together.

"As a council, we should support them on this."

The proposal is being considered by the council.