People power forces u-turn on Walker Welfare
09 March 2008
Campaigners in Thornhill were celebrating this week with the news that a Kirklees U-turn will see the Walker Welfare re-opened.
The centre, which has been home to the Thornhill Senior Citizens group since 1963, has been closed since last January when the council refused to pay for essential repairs which would have cost around £100,000.
Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik has been campaigning to save the centre and recently held a meeting with Kirklees chiefs to discuss the Walker Welfare: “I’m pleased that Kirklees have finally listened to what we’ve all been telling them for the past fourteen months and done the right thing at long last, and I’m especially pleased that Betty, Rita and the rest of the gang will soon be back where they belong and I look forward to joining them.”
The Labour MP has been highly critical of the council’s stance on the Walker Welfare and last year made calls for funds to be made available from the £16m budget shortfall.
The MP also said that he thought that the change of heart at Kirklees had been brought about through the campaign to save the centre: “This is a case of people power forcing Kirklees to rethink their decision. The petition was signed by hundreds and our campaign received massive support in Thornhill.”
Mr Malik also praised local councillor Masood Ahmed who he said had played a big part in the campaign and also thanked officers at Kirklees for seeing sense at long last.