In the right spirit (From Penarth Times)

In the right spirit

A PENARTH councillor has vowed to push for a community centre in her ward to keep the spirit of the area, and that of its residents, alive.

St Augustine"s ward member Lis Burnett fears the lack of community facilities on the site of the proposed Penarth Heights project will have a detrimental effect on the north end of the town.

When the Vale council produced its design brief initially, she said, there was no room allocated for a community centre.

Cllr Burnett is calling on the Vale to provide the funding and the land for such a building.

She said: "If the council wants to create a vibrant community then it must provide residents with a community centre - something to call their own.

"If there is no such facility, then the community will become segregated.

"The council has millions in its reserves, and it should not be let off from its responsibility in north Penarth.

"I will be fighting for this over the coming months - watch this space."

However, Cabinet member for Economic Development and Leisure Mike Harvey said that the council had already addressed the need for a community centre at the north end of Penarth.

The difficulty lies, said Cllr Harvey, in bringing together lots of different needs in one location.

"There is no argument in the need for a community facility in the north end of Penarth," he said.

"But we have to consider the needs of the young and the old."

Cllr Harvey also highlighted the council"s difficulty in delivering the centre before money is actually available for it.

He added: "We have to spend money before getting any benefits. We have to be * Cllr Burnett is urging residents to contact her with their concerns over the development of the Billybanks site. She can be contacted on 029 2040 8485.