08 Dec 2024
Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre could end up empty and unused – leaving a gaping hole in the lives of local residents – because managers Everyone Active are putting profit before people.
As revealed in the St Albans Times, after taking control of the centre at the start of October, the SADC contractors imposed a package of changes without any warning or consultation.
These include reducing weekday openings from 10am-3pm, Saturdays from 10am-2pm, and closing the centre all day Sundays. Community groups also have to hire a minimum of two rooms for bookings outside of the weekend opening hours, which has increased their costs.
We visited the centre for Monday Club – a joint initiative by LeeAnna’s Wish CIC and Sopwell Residents Association – which provides free hot food and drinks, activities for children, football coaching, arts and crafts and table tennis.
Children were running freely between different rooms or immersing themselves in the creation of artwork, people of all ages were chatting over plates of steaming food, and there was a general buzz to the centre which suggested a real enthusiasm for what was happening there.
Valentina Maggio, who has multiple sclerosis, comes to the centre two or three afternoons a week: “It’s a break for me, it’s freedom for the kids who get a big space to play in, and it’s nice to just come down and spend time with other people.”
The centre is now only open for four hours a week outside of school hours, which drastically reduces access to toilet facilities for youngsters using the outdoor cycle course and football pitches.
Karen Lawrence enjoys the communal crocheting sessions: “When I retired, this place was a saving grace for me because I made new friends, I had somewhere to come during the week and it gave me a purpose.
“I come on Saturdays and Tuesdays as well, and the fact that they’re struggling to pay because it’s so expensive worries me that we’re going to have to cut one of these activities and then I’ll be at home on my own again.”
Claire Hymas, who has a neurological condition which means she cannot work, says she found it hard to get out and socialise before discovering the Cottonmill Centre.
The group was set up by LeeAnna’s Wish nine years ago following a suggestion by Simona Twilley after she had a stroke.
“It left me physically and mentally disabled, so I can’t go to work, I can’t drive, and I need help to go places. I first came here with my Headway group [a brain injury charity] but
found out that they were keen to start a crochet or creative craft group, so I put my brain to good use and here we are.”
Henrietta Richardson is also a bingo caller during Tuesday’s Community Cafe: “People come from as far away from Luton and New Greens to take part; it’s really welcoming and friendly, and there’s a lot of conversation and mental stimulation for older people getting out of their homes, and it’s appreciated by so many people.”
Claire added: “Our community is made up of a lot of children, elderly and disabled people, and there’s a cultural diversity as well. We’ve got all our Caribbean ladies, our East European ladies and people who have lived in St Albans all their lives.”
Carl “CJ” Boyle helps out with manual labour around the centre: “Everyone who comes in here is so nice and open and so friendly that you just end up talking to people, kind of whether you want to or not. But it’s the community spirit that keeps it going.”
Shelley Hayles, director of LeeAnna’s Wish CIC, fears for the future: “Local people didn’t have anywhere to go before this centre was built. I think the important thing to highlight is the impact the reduced hours have had and how much extra finances it costs. I don’t know if we’ll be able to pay for it.
“We put in for our funding back in August, but then the rent’s gone up and probably will again in April.
“I don’t know what they’re doing to be honest. In the past it was much more flexible. We could hire rooms because we were keyholders, but now Everyone Active is saying a member of staff has to be there at every time, which is a cost to them, and why they’re shutting on Saturdays and Sundays.
“The centre was never supposed to be just another council resource. Obviously it was never going to make money, hopefully it could tick over, or if it made a loss then the council would support it from its own funding, but now because it’s Everyone Active they want to make money.
“My biggest concern is the impact it has on people. Lots of people move to St Albans and have no family, so what they get here is that sense of connection. It’s a mental health project in itself, a lifeline to the community.
“I mean, what is its purpose? Is it a community centre? Because what we’re doing here is all about community. Everyone Active want to run this place into the ground. They have no care and they have no consideration.
“I mean, the fact that a lot of other charities that were occupying this space have now moved on to other places speaks volumes.”
Sopwell Cllr Harriet Sherlock said: “The Lib Dem administration is incredibly proud of delivering the Cottonmill Community Centre hand-in-hand with the Sopwell community, and we are determined to make sure it remains affordable and accessible for residents and community groups.
“St Albans district council is still reeling from 25 per cent budget cuts from the Conservative government since 2015, the mini-Budget and continuing cost pressures, so we must ensure that the centre’s income covers its operating costs.
“To achieve this, councillors initially agreed to some weekend closures but did not agree to changes in weekday openings. There was an administrative error and these changes should not have been advertised.
“All existing bookings are being honoured and events can still be booked beyond the centre’s core opening hours. And excitingly, the council will be upgrading the five-a-side pitch early in the new year, which will help to generate extra revenue which in turn will help extend the centre’s core opening hours.
“Meanwhile, councillors and officials will be meeting with the community centre’s user group and the local residents’ association on Monday to discuss how best to keep the community centre accessible and affordable.”
Daisy Cooper MP added: “The creation of the Cottonmill Community Centre is a fantastic community achievement and I know that the Sopwell community will work hand-in-glove with the council to keep it available for all to use.
“The new Government is yet to announce next year’s budgets for local authorities but it’s clear what is at stake. If central government does not start to fund local government properly then vital community assets – like the Cottonmill Community Centre – have to work even harder to keep their space open and available.
“Having moved heaven and earth to build the centre, we must all do the same again to keep it open and accessible for all the vital community groups that use it.”
