Conservative councillors Matt Hartley and Roger Tester have launched a formal challenge to Greenwich Labour's cuts to the borough's Play Centre services, after Labour Cabinet Members voted to close the current staffed, supervised Play Centres at Coldharbour, Glyndon and Woolwich despite widespread opposition from communities.
The two councillors, who represent the Coldharbour estate and have been campaigning against Labour's plans for the Coldharbour Adventure Play Centre at The Course for more than a year, have 'called in' the decision, which means it will now have to reeive further scrutiny at a public hearing at Woolwich Town Hall before being confirmed. The date for the call-in hearing, at which anyone with an interest in the decision can request to speak, is currently being arranged.
Councillor Roger Tester, who handed in one of several petitions against Play Centre cuts, said: "These deeply damaging cuts will impact the life chances of young people on the Coldharbour Estate, and I just cannot believe the Council is going ahead with them despite the huge opposition the community has demonstrated. This was not a genuine consultation - it was in fact a sham of a consultation - and people on the estate undestandably feel a deep sense of betrayal over the way they have been treated."
Future plans for a Community Hub on the Coldharbour Estate will be consulted on, including what has been described as "possible" youth offer - but when asked to guarantee this would include staffed, supervised youth provision in the future at last night's Council meeting, Labour Cabinet Member Sandra Bauer declined to give that assurance, saying only that it was "likely".
Councillor Matt Hartley attended yesterday's Cabinet meeting to represent parents, children and local residents concerned about the end of staffed Play Centre at The Course. Speaking to Cabinet Members, he said: "This report talks about 'transformation not closure' and I think its protests a bit too much - because this certainly is a closure to the staffed, supervised Play Centre service that is part of the fabric of the Coldharbour Estate and other communities". Labour Cabinet Members declined Councillor Hartley's request to withdraw the decision, "go back to the drawing board" and re-run a genuine consultation on a range of options including continued supervised provision.
Councillor Hartley continued: "We have one last chance to stop Labour from proceeding with this deeply damaging cut. As soon as we have details for the public 'call-in' hearing, we will let everyone know so as many people as possible can come along and share the impact this will have on the community."
You can watch Councillor Matt Hartley's speech to Cabinet here and read the Call-in notice below.
