Volunteers step in to save Kintbury's Jubilee Centre

Popular leisure centre kept open in a defiant display of community spirit

KINTBURY residents have stepped in to save the village’s Jubilee Centre from closure.

The popular leisure centre was due to shut at the end of March owing to uncertainty over future funding.

But, in a defiant act of community spirit, villagers grouped together and came up with a new plan – and the necessary funds – to keep it open.

Last week more than 100 of them hosted a special party at the centre to celebrate the takeover.

One of those in attendance was Kintbury resident Claire Kerley, who regularly uses the venue along with her children, Thomas and Louise.

She said: “It has been so important to me personally. I actually had my eighth birthday party at the Jubilee Centre.

“Even I have been surprised by the level of support – it is brilliant. I’m just delighted that it has been kept open.”

Debbie Grace, who uses the centre with her son Callum, 10 and daughter Olivia, four, said: “It is a vital part of this community and it’s amazing that everyone has rallied round to save it from closure.”

Christine Britnell, who runs the baby-and-toddler group at the centre, baked a commemorative cake to mark the occasion.

She said: “It’s so nice to see everyone come together and achieve something like this.”

There was a huge round of applause and smiles all round as Newbury MP Richard Benyon cut the red ribbon and paid tribute to the volunteers, saying he’d “never seen a community more behind a project than this”.

To mark the re-opening, pupils from Kintbury primary school, St Mary’s, had been given the task of creating a new logo for the centre.

At the opening event, Jacob Mitchell was announced as the winner and Freya Illenden-Rough and Molly Burnett runners-up.

Local celebrities also showed their support for the centre, including premiership footballer Charlie Austin, who plays for Southanpton, and used to play for Kintbury Rangers before turning professional, who donated a Nike football and a Charlie Austin Soccer School T-shirt.

Former Park House pupil and Hamstead Marshall resident 18-year-old Annabel Chaffey, who used to attend sports classes at the centre and is now junior bobsleigh world number two, also showed up to lend her support.

West Berkshire Council had cut its £9,000-a-year grant to the centre, while Parkwood Leisure – appointed by the council to run the centre – said it would not be renewing its contract when it expired in March 2017.

As a result, a decision was taken to terminate the contract a year early by mutual agreement, which provoked a furious response from residents, who had not been consulted over the issue.

More than 800 people subsequently signed a petition against the closure and a five-man committee, led by Kintbury parish councillor Neil Patterson, together with residents Paul Morgan, Clive Illenden, Pierre Hutchison and Gary Kimber, was formed to come up with a plan to keep the centre open.

At the party, Mr Patterson said: “Thank you Kintbury, we have done it.

“You should be really proud of yourselves.”

The centre was built with funds raised during the Queen’s jubilee celebrations in 1977 and was opened in 1981 by the late Sir Gordon Richards, a long-term resident of the village.

Funds are still needed to carry out vital repairs.

To donate, visit http://www.kintburyjubileecentre.co.uk/donation