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Cash spent on closed centre
MORE than £80,000 has been spent by Hillingdon Council on an activity centre despite it being closed.
Cwm Pennant Mountain Centre in the Snowdonia National Park Wales was used by local schools and youth groups.
However, in February 2007, the council decided to shut down the centre because of a "low take up of services" by people in the borough.
David Munroe, 58, of the mountain centre's users group obtained figures from a Freedom of Information Act request which showed £80,248 has been spent since October 1.
Mr Munroe is now looking for people to come forward and join him to form a local trust which would fund part of the lease.
He hopes his efforts with the support of others would save the centre, which provides watersports and outdoor activities, from complete closure.
Mr Munroe, said: "What I hope is that people will realise what an asset the centre is to young people in the borough.
"People need to join me in trying to keep the centre open."
Councillor Anthony Way, leader of the Labour group at Hillingdon Council, has been against the closure of the centre.
He said: "There was a lot of local support for the centre at the time of the council's announcement to close it and I will do all I can to help David.
"This was supposed to be a cost effective decision by the council but money has still to be spent on it."
Gerry Edwards, head of corporate property for Hillingdon Council, said: "The council decided to close Cwm Pennant Mountain Centre at full council in February 2007 due to low take up of services by Hillingdon residents.
"Unfortunately, the council has since had unavoidable costs due to this closure.
"An initial six-month period was identified to facilitate the closure and to look at the possibility of transferring the lease to another company.
"A number of interested bids were considered but, unfortunately, no party has been able to take over this lease. Since services ceased at Cwm Pennant in September, the council has had a duty to maintain the property and ensure its security, as well as offer redundancy packages for its staff, which has incurred ongoing costs."
Anyone interested in supporting Mr Munroe can email him at cwmpennant@blueyonder.co.uk
7:08am Thursday 27th March 2008
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