FINAL plans for a new community centre are to be thrashed out at a
make-or-break meeting. For five years the Salvation Army has been trying to acquire land
and build a meeting hall and community centre next to Oakes police station at Reinwood recreation ground. The site would swallow up a car park and some changing rooms.
The Examiner understands that at first Kirklees Council said the
Salvation Army would have to build replacement changing rooms. But when the Salvation Army checked with its legal department it was
discovered the organisation would be responsible for health and safety legislation and child protection duties at the changing rooms, which it would not be able to fulfil. It told the council this and in March Kirklees said it would not be
a problem. The council then sent the Salvation Army a letter offering it a
125-year lease for a fixed price. But in October the Salvation Army received a letter telling it that
changing rooms must be part of the deal. A summit has now been called for this month to sort out the issue
once and for all. A spokesman at the Salvation Army's headquarters in London said it
was aware of the issues and was keen to sort them out. He said the organisation could not provide the changing rooms for
legal reasons. The Examiner understands the new building could be positioned so the
car park and changing rooms could stay. A council spokesman said: "A meeting has been arranged between
officers and the Salvation Army for two weeks' time."