Campaigners working to save the Cadder Community from closure have been given full backing for their campaign from Glasgow MSP Bob Doris. Mr Doris has started a community consultation with residents in the Cadder area to support a business plan for taking the centre into community ownership. A steering group has been set up to take a business case to the council to request a stay of execution in the short term which would allow the centre to stay open until permanent arrangements can be made. Mr Doris is calling for the community centre to be funded and operated by Culture and Sport Glasgow for six months in order to allow the community time to get its plan up and running.

Mr Doris said: "Cadder has a wonderful sense of community right now, but if the centre closes then for people to get to amenities they would have to leave.

"There are already very few places the community can come together so the potential closure of Cadder Community Centre has come as a major blow, especially as the community is still reeling from the closure of St Agnes' Primary School.

"I'm asking the local community for their opinion first, then I propose a serious look at options for community ownership.

"It's simply a dereliction of duty for the local authority to shut the doors on this centre without talking it through with local people and the groups who rely on the centre. A tight council budget caused by the recession is being blamed for the decision to axe the centre, but in reality no investment was put in to this community in any of the so called good years. Cadder has been neglected by Labour in Glasgow. It’s time now for the community to be allowed to succeed where the Labour local authority has failed.

"I urge locals to demonstrate to the council how much support there is in Cadder for the community centre. A good response to this parliamentary consultation will do just that, as well as to build support for community ownership."

ENDS

Contact 07786 020545 Photo. Bob Doris (right) with campaigners outside the Cadder Centre. Kenny Mollins pictured (left) from Cadder Housing Association :