GIRVAN community centre is just one of six in the Girvan and South Carrick area that face closure after the budget was announces last month.

These centres have been put in a difficult situation after South Ayrshire Council passed on unaffordable utility bills on to user groups on these facilities.

An online petition is now circling social media to prevent them from shutting.
It states: "We must stand together and say NO to these unnecessary cuts. Girvan Community Centre has been asked for £7500 to cover utility bills this year.

"This came with three days notice and in the knowledge that the centre only made £1700 profit last year. The users of the facility are not for profit organisations."

Organisers feel the utility bill could not only force the centre to close, but could also see six children's groups, including a local playgroup shut their doors.

Girvan play group is the only remaining play group in South Ayrshire providing vital childcare for local communities. Concerns have also been raised that closure would also leave a number of adult groups, which help vulnerable people and the national blood bank without affordable accommodation.

Ballantrae, Colmonell, Barr, Pinwherry, Dailly and Crosshill are also in the same position.

The petition states: "Our community centres are the hubs of our community and I fear we may lose them all. Villages will effectively be left with no meeting place, no voting facility or place to speak with their councillor or MP.

"This is a disgrace. We must stand firm and insist that South Ayrshire Council rethinks this budget efficiency.

"The council are responsible for making financial decisions and must balance their books sensibly, without hitting areas of high poverty the hardest.

"There has been no consultation in this process, only demand for payment and we the residents of Girvan and South Carrick demand better treatment. We expect these bills to be retracted in full."

Claire Monaghan, Head of Communities, South Ayrshire Council, responded:

"No community centre will close because of the change to the working practices introduced by the Council in response to the difficult financial climate it operates in.

“We’re working with community associations to discuss their individual circumstances and to help them respond to the challenges they face.

“However, if a community association decided to stop managing a centre, the Council would step in and take over the day-to-day running, as it does with many other community facilities throughout South Ayrshire.”

To sign the petition visit https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/oppose-unaffordable-sac-utility-bills-which-will-shut-girvan-and-south-carrick-community-centres.html#.Vw6q3dWn7GE.facebook.