BlueFish plays key role in community centre re-opening
Nov 25, 2009
BlueFish Regeneration has played an essential role in helping secure the future of the Phoenix Centre in Wakefield.
BlueFish Regeneration has played an essential role in ensuring an apparently lost Wakefield community centre could re-open with its long-term future secure. The Phoenix Centre, in Batley Road, Alverthorpe, a Victorian former school, was closed in May by Wakefield Council on health and safety grounds. However, the local authority then agreed to consider leasing the building to the local community, if its representatives could produce a convincing business case for it resuming its former role.
Community association the Phoenix Alverthorpe Ltd then approached BlueFish for advice on the business case, and a 25-year lease was signed at the beginning of October. Now, less than six weeks after urgent repair work costing nearly £50,000 began, the centre is open for business again and is set to offer a wide range of resources and facilities to the local community. The Phoenix has asked BlueFish to start work straight away on drawing up a costed delivery plan for a complete refurbishment of the building.
Marie Smith, director of the Phoenix Alverthorpe Ltd, said: "We're thrilled to see the centre re-open. This is the result of the tremendous support we've had from local residents, who've fought a long campaign to retain the amenity, and a lot of other people, who've been incredibly supportive. The expertise of BlueFish, who worked with us on the business case and lease, has been massively important. Their input was reinforced by that of other professionals, such as surveyors and engineers, who volunteered their services and without whom this achievement would also not have been possible."
Among the centre's users are Batley Road Playgroup, a 30-year-old OFSTED-registered charity, catering for 30 two-to-four year-olds, which had to operate from the local Blue Light pub during its closure. Other organisations based at the centre include Wakefield and District Sports Association for the Disabled.
Imelda Havers, BlueFish managing director, said: "Our approach is very much to work with local communities, in urban, rural and coastal locations, to ensure facilities which result from regeneration projects meet their needs. It was very clear to us, from the moment we began working with the community association last year, that there was a huge desire in Alverthorpe for the centre to remain open and we're delighted to have helped local residents achieve this long-term solution, which will deliver great benefits to them. One result of our input is that the business plan's acceptance has unlocked £100,000 of council money, which is now being invested in the Phoenix Centre's refurbishment. The remarkable speed at which the first phase of this work has been completed is a tribute to the people of the area and one indication of how much the facility is needed."
Wakefield Council's Leader Peter Box said: "We're pleased this community group is able to continue providing a local and much-loved service at the Phoenix Centre. We've provided support and advice to the group and this has led to them taking on the building and accessing funding which is available to community groups and societies. We hope their success continues and many people enjoy the newly refurbished centre."
