'Unsustainable' Haslingden centre to close

Date published: 09 August 2009

A COMMUNITY centre is set to close its doors after nine years serving people in Haslingden but it is hoped the building could become a media hub.
 
The Mary Hindle Resource Centre in Bury Road opened in 2000 after community workers spent two years raising the necessary funds and sourcing a location – the former New Thorn Pub. 

But a working party of the board of trustees, which runs the centre, met on Tuesday and reluctantly took the decision to close it from 30 September. 

All user groups, including a video-training and production unit run by Community Action in Rossendale (CAR) and Lancashire Youth and Community Service which runs a popular youth club, have been sent letters this week informing them of the decision. 

Trustee and acting vice-chairman John Ogley said: “The centre is just not financially viable in its present format. Reluctantly we have decided that we can see no way of increasing the use of the centre which will provide an income at sustainable levels to keep the operation viable. There is insufficient income in the current national recession to continue operating in the present manner. 

“We are holding an annual general meeting on 17 August at the centre at 7.30pm but we wanted to make people aware of what is being proposed early. People of Haslingden raised the money to open this centre and it is only right that they know what is going to happen. 

“Unless we can get more trustees to get involved then the centre in its present format will close. There maybe a future – to use the building as a media hub for creative industries and we hope this option may be pursued by a new group of trustees who have a lively interest in such a proposal.” 

Already there is keen interest from Radio Rossendale, which is seeking a home for the radio station. Project manager Tony Nixon said: “The station had been looking for suitable premises for some time now and the Mary Hindle Resource Centre is the ideal venue at which to base the radio station.
“It’s proximity and line of site to the radio transmitter at Top o’ Slate would enable the station to broadcast to every part of the Valley providing the best possible signal to all listeners.” 

Another key player in the potential rebirth of the centre could be Paul Vernon Lydiate, who runs the CAR video unit at the centre.
He said: “The unit has been looking into the possibility of producing video for local businesses on a commercial basis and this is something that we are very keen to pursue. “The CAR video unit is ideally placed to provide high quality low cost video throughout East Lancashire.
 
"Maintaining a base would also allow us to continue the valuable video production training we have been offering over the last few years. Thanks to support from Heritage Lottery, Groundwork Pennine Lancashire and the Local Network Fund, we have been able to train to approaching 100 Rossendale people of all ages. We also provide Rossendale’s community groups with videos they could otherwise not afford to produce.” 

Anyone interested in securing the future of the premises can attend the annual general meeting. 

Haslingden Community Forum secured money from the lottery, North West Development Agency, Rossendale Council and Action for Haslingden (single regeneration budget money) totally nearly £270,000 to develop and equip the premises. The centre was named after Haslingden woman Mary Hindle who was convicted of taking part in the Loom Riots of 1832 and was deported to Australia despite inconclusive evidence.

For further information contact the Mary Hindle Resource Centre 229330.