Farringdon Park Community Centre

A community centre in one of the most deprived areas of the city has not been listed as a community asset.

Preston City Council have decided not to list the Farringdon Park Community Centre in Ribbleton.

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The Residents Association of Farringdon and Thirlmere (RAFT) submitted a bid to have the centre listed as a Community Right to Bid building.

This would enable to residents association to take over the running of the building.

However, the city council’s Assistant Director, Head of Community Services, decided the building – used for community events throughout the day – said the building failed to meet the criteria to be listed.

“Whilst it was concluded that Farringdon Park Community Centre had in the recent past furthered the social interests and wellbeing of the local community there was a lack of supporting evidence provided by the nominating group to enable the decision maker to determine that there was a viable prospect that the community centre could be brought back into use by them.”

Dot Halliwell, secretary of the Farringdon and Thirlmere Residents Association, wrote in the group’s application.

“This property has been used as a Community Centre for the past 25 years and it is, therefore important that it is retained in its present form in order to further the social interest and social wellbeing of the local community.

The proposal states around £15,000 per year is estimated to be needed to run the centre every year.

The residents association claim they can find the money through charitable trusts and other organisations.

The rejection follows another Ribbleton community centre, at Moor Nook, being granted the community listed status.

A report to the city council’s cabinet on the future of the Faringdon Park site, outlining how £119,000 of repair would be needed to restore the building.

The council say the residents association has “little or no evidence that they had the required knowledge or experience to make the Centre a viable proposition.”

RAFT estimated they would need £58,100 over five years from the city council to help run the centre.

Do you live in the area? What do you think about the decision? Let us know in the comments below