Community hubs fear for future amid consultation

A consultation on cuts to Leicester's community centre and library services has already prompted protests including earlier this month outside Town Hall

Groups that use council-run community centres across Leicester have voiced their fears as a consultation into their future is under way.

Leicester City Council, which currently operates 13 community centres and 16 libraries across the city, is asking for the public's views on a new "service model" operating from 12 multi-service centres and the Central Library.

It comes as the authority is looking to reduce their budget by up to £2.1m over the next three years following "a decade and a half of central government cuts in funding".

But the suggestion the centres could be transferred to community organisations to run has sparked concern among users.

Rupa Soni organises weekly social events for women at Rushey Mead Recreation Centre

Rupa Soni organises weekly social events for women at Rushey Mead Recreation Centre where members meet, talk and take part in activities to celebrate their Hindu faith.

They are calling on the city council to retain control of the centre.

Rupa says her group members are concerned they may be priced out of the centre if new owners take over and increase charges to rent out the rooms.

She also does not know anyone who would be able to operate the centre successfully.

Muktaben Makhwana, who regularly attends the socials, said: "I don't go anywhere, I'm alone."

She said her son had died, and for her "there's no other place to go".

Jane Barnes has run children activities for 32 years at the Tudor Centre

On the Mowmacre estate, residents have exactly the same concerns.

Many are worried that the only nearby community building they have access to - the Tudor Centre - may suffer the same fate.

Jane Barnes has run Stay and Play children activities for 32 years at the centre.

Now working as a volunteer, she says: "If I couldn't do it, I don't know what I'd do. It's my life."

Her concerns are backed by local Labour councillor Annette Byrne, who says there is unlikely to be anyone on the estate with the time, skills and resources needed to run Tudor Centre themselves.

"This is one of the poorest estates in Leicester. You've got liability insurance, gas, electric, water.

"Who's going to take responsibility if anything goes wrong? No, we're not having that."

Consultation continues

The Tudor Centre and Rushey Mead Recreation Centre are two of the eleven council-run centres and libraries being considered for transfer to communities to run.

Assistant city mayor for libraries and community centres, councillor Vi Dempster, does not deny the changes are about saving money.

However, she says it "doesn't have to be a negative thing, if you do it the right way".

"We are doing it in a way that is listening to and responding to people in this city," she said.

She confirms no decisions have yet been made, adding she will participate in meetings at the venues affected where she will answer people's questions.

Two community centres in Leicester have already been handed over to community groups to run including the Highfields Centre in 2010 and African-Caribbean Centre in 2023.

The consultation on these latest proposals will finish on 29 June.