Clydebank Post | News | Festival launch of £2.8m centre

Wednesday, 19th November, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 16th July, 2008 09:30

Festival launch of £2.8m centre

By Colin Hutton

Image related to story, see caption or article text

OFFICIAL: Provost Denis Agnew, councillor Marie McNair, MEP Elspeth Atwooll, MSP Des McNulty, councillor Gail Casey, centre manager Paul Holmes, councillor Jim McElhill, councillor Willie Hendry and CHA chairman John Hillhouse

A COMMUNITY which has waited seven years for a regeneration centre has been celebrating the official opening of the multi-million pound facility.

The £2.8m Centre81 was opened by Elspeth Attwooll MEP on Friday, before residents descended on the premises for a Summer festival and barbecue the following day.

Funding to build the centre was secured from various partners, including the European Government, the Scottish Government, West Dunbartonshire Council and the Lottery.

The cash grants were handed over on the proviso that the centre is specifically used to aid the regeneration of the area.

Some residents had expected the centre would be a traditional community hub, hosting tea dances and youth groups.

However, its main role is to provide practical assistance to help unemployed, the long-term sick and young people from the community leaving school without qualifications, to gain the skills to get on in life.

Joe Henry, who lives in Whitecrook, told the Post: “It’s a great thing for the people of Whitecrook.

“The fact is that the centre is going to be used.

“It will become an asset to the area and hopefully in time can be appreciated by the whole community.”

Clydebank MSP Des McNulty added: “It’s taken a long time for the centre to get finished but it’s a fantastic addition to Whitecrook.

“Community activists and Clydebank Housing Association have both contributed to the completion of this centre.”

Clydebank Housing Association (CHA) — which will run the facility — held a public consultation in May to allow residents the chance to suggest what facilities and events they would like to the centre used for.

And after a successful festival weekend, when countless Bankies got through 300 burgers, 200 hot dogs, 300 sausages, 300 chicken legs, 25 kilos of potato salad and 500 cartons of juice, it seems that the community is ready to embrace the new centre on Braes Avenue.

Paul Holmes, centre manager, said: “The Centre81 Summer Festival and BBQ was a way of trying to generate a sense of community and community ‘ownership’ of Centre81.

“We hope that it will become an annual event alongside those planned for Christmas and Easter.

“Now that Centre81 is up and running its success very much depends on how much Clydebank residents use the facilities and services presently being offered and those which are in the pipe line.”

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