New hub hope for community

By MEL WRIGHT

BALLASALLA could get a new community centre — if permission is granted to convert two houses in Clagh Vane for temporary use.

Planning application (09/02092), submitted by Ballasalla Community Partnership under the auspices of the Department of Local Government and the Environment, is the product of several years' work, according to Malew and Santon MHK Graham Cregeen.

Ballasalla Community Partnership initially planned to have a centre within the new Crossag Farm estate, for which DLGE would give £75,000 and Malew Commissioners £25,000.

'When they lost planning, DLGE withdrew the money,' said Mr Cregeen.

Other options were looked at to provide a facility, such as portable cabins and a double decker bus, but DLGE was not keen for a number of reasons, Mr Cregeen said.

Instead, the department offered the use of a house in Clagh Vane that was earmarked for demolition in 18 months to two years' time.

'I was concerned it was a bit small,' said Mr Cregeen. 'I was offered the second house next door and I snatched his hand off.'

Ballasalla Community Partnership, which comprises Malew Commissioners, the departments of health and social services, education, local government and the environment, the Children's Centre, police and Mr Cregeen, decided the houses were ideal for use as a community facility and applied for planning permission.

Already four nights have been earmarked for use by youth clubs and the Children's Centre. But the centre is for the whole community, so is likely to be used during school hours by other groups, such as those learning computer skills.

'Hopefully, if this works it will fill a need,' said Mr Cregeen. 'There is not another community space in Ballasalla, we've got the scout hall and that's it.

'One of the things that we found is people like to have ownership of what's there. We are trying to involve all the communities.'

Mr Cregeen wants to see a programme that will attract people, but recognised that sometimes people do not want to be organised.

'If they want to walk with friends fine, maybe this can provide them with somewhere just to sit,' he added.

'I notice living in Ballasalla that we do still have a community spirit.

'We have things like the Christmas dinner for the over-60s in the Whitestone. It's a lovely place to live. Yes, we have some problems, but there are a lot of people who have been living there for generations.'

He added while their were established families in Ballasalla with many links in the community, there were others who were new and did not have such community links.

The advantage of converting houses at Clagh Vane is that they won't cost a lot of money, Mr Cregeen added. He is aware, however, that if the community facility takes off the hunt will be on for alternative, permanent premises.

Courtesy of Manx Independent and www.iomtoday.com