For immediate release:

LOCAL MSP VOICES OPPOSITION TO COUNCIL FACILITY CUTS

South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (SLLC) are currently consulting on proposals to withdraw from a number of facilities across the local authority area.

SLLC insist that no final decision has yet been made, but under the current plans, the following venues in Rutherglen and Cambuslang would be earmarked for closure: Halfway Library, Cambuslang Library, Eastfield Community Centre, North Halfway Hall, and the Peter Brownlie Centre and Pitches.

The council’s arms-length leisure body states that it is facing a potential £1.5 million reduction in the income they receive from South Lanarkshire Council.

As part of the consultation process, SLLC report that 77 percent of respondents to an earlier consultation agreed or strongly agreed that community centres and halls are important to them, their family, and their community, with 84% saying the same about libraries.

Yet, 59 percent of respondents reported that they “never” use a golf course, and 72% reported that they “never” use the ice rink, yet these SLLC facilities are slated to remain open.

In the consultation document, SLLC have grouped areas under four different localities – Cambuslang and Rutherglen; Clydesdale; East Kilbride; and Hamilton. At the moment, there are 36 SLLC facilities in Clydesdale, 29 in East Kilbride, 34 in Hamilton, and just 15 across Cambuslang and Rutherglen – around half the number of the other areas. Of this 15, five may be cut under the plans.

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has slammed the proposals in a letter to the Chief Executive of SLLC.

In her letter, Ms Haughey argues that her constituency is disproportionately impacted by the potential cuts and that SLLC have failed to recognise the value of facilities earmarked for closure.

Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:

“These facilities are at the heart of our communities, and I am firmly opposed to their closure.

“Rutherglen and Cambuslang already have the lowest number of facilities within SLLC’s portfolio – around half the number of other areas in South Lanarkshire. Yet, they are consulting on closing a third of these compared to less than a quarter in East Kilbride, which has double the number of facilities, despite geographic similarities.

“When looking at the Cambuslang East ward alone, SLLC are looking at closing three of their four venues – North Halfway Hall, Halfway Library and the Peter Brownlie Centre.

“But it’s not just the disproportionate impact locally – some of the facilities, including Halfway and Cambuslang libraries and North Halfway and Eastfield Community halls, are incredibly well used.

“Politics is all about choices, and I believe that the South Lanarkshire Council administration’s priorities and choices are all wrong.

“Widespread criticism led to North Lanarkshire Council U-turning on their ludicrous plans to close around 40 community facilities – showing community pressure does work and the proposed cuts here in South Lanarkshire are not inevitable.

“I would encourage local residents to take part in SLLC’s consultation to save our services.”

The SLLC consultation is running until Thursday 15^th February and can be accessed at: https://www.slleisureandculture.co.uk/news/article/4414/resident_consultation_-_phase_3.

ENDS