I am curious as to why councillors Tim Crowley and Tony Shields have singled out the Sutton Life Centre as a “turkey” at the last council meeting (War of words of cost of “turkey” Life Centre, January 22).

If their point is that it is a council building that does not turn a profit, then all our libraries, theatres, community centres and museums are also “turkeys”.

None of these buildings return a profit and that is precisely why these services are provided by councils with taxpayer subsidy, rather than by commercial organisations: because there is no profit in it.

Yes, in better days when the Life Centre was being planned it was predicted the new technology and facilities would generate enough usage to at least cover the whole buildings costs.

That has proved to be unrealistic and we find the Life Centre has to be subsidised just like other libraries and community centres.

But calling it a turkey undermines all the valuable work that is being done there, such as the highly successful library, the youth centre, climbing wall, outside games area and, in particular, the school tours.

These tours aimed at year 6 and 8 schoolchildren have had very good feedback.

They guide young people towards important life decisions, tackling issues such as bullying, teenage drinking, domestic violence, healthy eating, internet safety and being safe on the streets.

Now we need to look to the future – how to keep the best of what the Life Centre offers while giving it financial security. The review the council is carrying out should provide a way forward for this.

And if the opposition’s solution to the existence of “turkeys” is to dispose of them, then we have a clear indication of how a Conservative majority would choose to make their savings.

COUN STEVE PENNECK

 



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