THE decision to carry out a £1m makeover of Barton Neighbourhood Centre was taken by councillors and others, following a hasty and patchy ‘consultation’ of people who do not live in Barton or understand Barton’s current needs for more community managed space for hire. 

More than 200 people voted in the local election in support of my campaign to meet Barton’s need for more community managed space. 

My recent address to full council stressed the loss of St Mary’s Church Community Hall in 2011, which led to the terrible loss of Isis Dance Academy, which had provided 30 years of dance classes for the youth of Barton; the loss of the Royal British Legion in 2012, and the loss of the Sports Pavilion in 2014. 

The people of Barton are in need of replacement space for hire; and for the former site of the Royal British Legion to be retained for community use. 

The people of Barton must urgently inform their councillors expressing how they wish the total £3.7m regeneration grant should be used to meet Barton’s needs today. 

The current councillors and officers are clearly more concerned with the future needs of the new Barton Park estate, rather than today’s needs in ‘old’ Barton. 

It is an outrage that £1m of public money should be spent on the still pristine neighbourhood centre when Barton’s need is greater.

CHAKA ARTWELL
Cranleigh Road, Barton