Three Winners and no Losers from Community Centre Changes in Harehills

6.00.00am GMT Fri 8th Feb 2008

Cllr Alan Taylor, Lib Dem Councillor for Gipton and Harehills has welcomed proposals to transfer greater control to local organisations for both the Pakistani and Bangladeshi Centres in Harehills and refurbish the Community Centre at Harehills Place on Harehills Road.

Last week the Council's Asset Management Group agreed to move forward with plans to sell the Pakistani Community Centre to the Muslim Cultural Society and lease the Bangladeshi Community Centre to the Bangladeshi Centre Management Committee on a 50 year lease.

Cllr Taylor said "This will allow both communities to take real control over the running of their centres, for benefit of the local community. At the same time it will release funding for the refurbishment of the Harehills Place Community Centre on Harehills Road.

"Community Groups such as the Muslim Cultural Society and the Bangladeshi Centre Management Committee play a vital role in the life of Harehills so this is really good news. The centre on Harehills Place was allowed to run down and desperately needs new investment so that it too will become a real asset for the local community.

"Along with the transformation of the old Harehills Middle School into the 'Shine' business development centre, this shows how the Council is working hard to help local people in Harehills."