A COUNCILLOR has demanded that Kirklees helps to pay for a parish hall which is replacing one which was burned down.
Clr Christine Stanfield is angry at delays in finishing St Philip’s Community Centre at Birchencliffe.
The new £600,000 building will replace Birchencliffe Parish Hall, which was destroyed by arsonists in March last year.
In January the community centre’s steering group asked Kirklees for help with a £33,000 insurance shortfall. The group submitted a business plan to the council in March and was told it had a good case for funding.
Clr Stanfield said: “In May the steering group was assured the bid would to go to the council’s Cabinet for decision ‘in two weeks time’. But it didn’t appear on the agenda.
“The hall is due to open in September and the group has no idea where the money to finish the building will come from if Kirklees refuses the grant at this late stage.”
The Lindley Lib Dem added: “The lack of communication on the council’s part has been frustrating for all involved. The group should have an apology and its grant paid immediately.
“Birchencliffe has been without its hall for long enough. The whole Birchencliffe community has been badly let down.”
A council spokesman said: “The issue was never scheduled to go to Cabinet in May.
“A business case has been prepared for funding and this will be put to Cabinet on September 3.”
The original hall was wrecked by a fierce blaze. The building provided a home to many local groups and organisations, including a playgroup and a drama company.
Now building work is well under way on the replacement centre.
