We ask the question, where is Staffordshire Moorlands District Council leading us? The answer is that we are either standing still or heading into a culde- sac.
We need from our local authority positive and bold action and we need it now rather than later when two additional supermarkets on the perimeter of Leek will have killed off the town centre.
Tourism is vitally important to the future of the town, which sits at the entrance to one of the most visited National Parks in the world.
People travelling through Leek must be made aware of its attractions and encouraged to shop and experience its history, its vibrancy, the splendour of its architecture and its businesses.
We believe that our council has £5 million in unused capital reserves and those interested in a community arts centre are requesting that £1m of this be used to secure a valuable town centre site with an existing attractive building (The Foxlowe).
This is a much better proposition than expanding £4m on an art/theatre complex from scratch.
All the requirements of a flexible community space could be incorporated on this site:
A museum/heritage centre for local people and visitors
Restaurant/cafe facilities
Function, lecture and conference facilities
Garden and parking facilities with a natural link to Brough Park
Rehearsal and changing facilities to support a new-build auditorium to the rear of the existing building.
This would be a springboard for Leek’s future.
A number of local surveys have indicated that this site would be ideal for this purpose and 3,000 local people have demonstrated their support by signing a petition.
Why are our local councillors so reluctant to make such an obvious investment which would do much to enhance the prosperity of the town and secure its future? What is there to lose? By making this investment the council would acquire a valuable asset which could not only provide much-needed facilities for local people and visitors but also a firm foundation for the economic health of the town.
Co-operative Financial Services / Britannia has pledged £500,000, The Parkside Trust could contribute £200,000 plus a private donation of £50,000. A past administration demolished the town hall 24 years ago and since then Leek has lacked community facilities for residents and visitors alike.
Leek has been deprived of these facilities for so long but never has such an opportunity been so important to safeguard the future prosperity of our town.
All that is needed is vision and action.
ROGER WARRILLOW Leek and District Civic Society and Colin Broome, Leek Arts Forum (chairman) and Parkside trustee