The Bridgend Centre was dismayed to hear that Bollington Town Council is considering pulling out of the contract they have agreed with Cheshire East Council to keep Pool Bank car park free to use for residents and visitors to Bollington.
As a vital and unique charity situated in the heart of our town but without our own parking on site, the Bridgend Centre views the car park at Pool Bank as essential to being able to provide our services. Each week hundreds of visitors come to use the centre, which is open 6 days a week, either for a browse in our popular charity shop or to access one of our many services. Their visit could be as simple as having a cup of tea in our café and a chat with a community worker or attending a class or workshop, maybe they are heading out on one of our guided walks which take place at least twice a week. Visitors include those who are isolated, elderly, with poor health or struggling with their mental health as well as those who love our shop, the wonderful welcoming atmosphere and ethos of the centre.
We have written to Bollington Town Council with some points we want to ask Councillors to consider ahead of the debate tonight:
1. The charity sector nationally and locally is under ever increasing pressure to provide services that fill gaps in the caring sectors but without receiving any government or local authority support.
2. Grants and funding sources are oversubscribed 10-fold, which adds to the pressure to keep our head above water financially.
3. The Bridgend Centre operates with a small staff team and a team of volunteers. Some are Bollington based but many travel from outside the town and due to the poor public transport need to come to the centre by car. Adding paid parking will add over a thousand pounds a year to a full-time member of staff’s personal costs.
4. Many of those accessing our services as visitors will also struggle with the car park becoming paid, it is a barrier to them receiving the support they need.
5. Have Councillors considered how they could fund permits instead of providing the whole car park for free via the Cheshire East contract?
6. We have heard mention of 30 mins free, and whilst any subsidy is welcome at the Bridgend Centre we are worried this will make a visitor rush to get back to their car, they may spend less in the shop (thus reducing a vital income stream) or may not have time to chat properly with a community worker.
7. What could BTC do to support the Bridgend Centre as we face this barrier to people accessing our services?
8. We are grateful for the long history of BTC supporting the Bridgend Centre, from the early days when the original Drop-in centre operated out of the Town Hall before BTC worked with us to help us buy the building and includes continued support via the grants process.
We asked council to please consider how they can find a way to keep Pool Bank as a free resource for all.
