Community rallies to save Chai Centre

A 'lifeline' community centre, under threat of closure by Lancashire County Council, has been given a new lease of life thanks to a collective of local businesses and organisations.
STAYING OPEN: Burnley MP Julie Cooper is joined by local concillors at the Chai CentreSTAYING OPEN: Burnley MP Julie Cooper is joined by local concillors at the Chai Centre
STAYING OPEN: Burnley MP Julie Cooper is joined by local concillors at the Chai Centre

The Chai Centre in Stoneyholme was one of several community centres listed by the county council as one of a number of potential community services to be closed in its latest raft of cost-cutting measures.

But users of the centre will now be delighted that it will now be run by a community enterprise company supported by Calico and Burnley Leisure Trust.

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Burnley MP Julie Cooper, county councillors, local councillors, community groups and leaders have worked together over several months, to esnure its survival.

Mrs Cooper said: “I am delighted that months of hard work and bringing various parties around the table, has resulted in the saving of this vital community asset.

“While there was no magic wand to conjure up the shortfall in funding resulting from the government’s austerity cuts to local authorities, I have been driven by the thought where there’s a will there’s a way. Sheer hard work and creative solutions have paid off.”