RESIDENTS living in Burnage and Parrs Wood are hoping to seize a golden opportunity to get themselves a voice – and a presence – in their community.
Social landlords Southway Housing Trust’s old offices on 24-26 Westcroft Road in Burnage is up for grabs – and community leaders want to grab it.
It means that after eight years of waiting for its own community centre in a vast area devoid of public buildings, a chance is now available.
But the moment will be lost without the support of the public.
Cleaner John Clegg is not a man to sweep problems under the carpet.
Dad-of-two John, 58, of Kingsway, Burnage, is calling on people to turn up to the first of a series of consultative drop-in sessions at the trust’s old housing office on Westcroft Road, on Wednesday, June 17, between 12.30-2.30pm and 5.30-7.30pm, to begin work on setting up Westcroft Community Association.
"We just want to know what their needs are and it will only take ten or 15 minutes," he said.
"This is great news for the community but we do need the community’s backing."
John, who is half of a two-man band at the moment, is positive their voice should be heard at a more local level.
And he is accustomed to taking on greater forces having been a Burnage councillor between 1984 and 1992 before being suspended by the Labour Party for his diametrically opposed opinions on the poll tax.
The other half is Jan Maughan, who is back in the chair of the Parrs Wood Tenants’ Association after a break, who is equally as passionate over making the new project work.
"This is what setting up the residents’ association was all about; getting a community centre," she said.
"But if we don’t rally the troops, this won’t work," she said. "It is a golden opportunity and we are being assisted by business planners supplied by Manchester City Council’s regeneration team.
"This is not just the Jan and John show. We can’t do it alone. With all the best will in the world we cannot run it on our own. It is neither practicable nor legal.
"And this building will not stay empty for ever."
The inaugural general meeting of the proposed Westcroft Community Association is at 7pm, on Wednesday, June 24, at Westcroft Road when officers and the management group will be elected.
For more information call 0161 286 7679 or email jc8020210@google mail.com
