We need the Westfield Community Centre!

Proposed funding cuts to Hinckley’s Westfield Community Centre were condemned at a packed public meeting on Thursday, 25 February.

Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bosworth Rory Palmer was one of the speakers at the public meeting. The meeting was held at the Centre which faces devastating cuts following proposals agreed in the Conservative-controlled County Council Budget. Other speakers included representatives from Unison and the Liberal Democrats. Bosworth’s Conservative MP was not present, sending apologies.

In the Budget backed by Leicestershire’s ruling Conservative group, it was agreed that around £140,000 be slashed from the Westfield’s Centre budget. Budget proposals were also backed by the Tories to sell off care homes including The Lime’s in Hinckley and Harvey House in Barwell.

Labour’s Rory Palmer is campaigning against these cuts and is backing other local campaigners including the Hinckley Pensioners Action Group and the Save our Services coalition. He has also called for a cross-party delegation to meet with the Leader of the County Council to discuss the impact of the cuts and to argue for their reversal.

Rory Palmer said:

“These cuts will be devastating for the Westfield Centre. The Centre has a strong history of helping thousands of local people. At the public meeting I called for a cross-party delegation to meet with the Leader of the County Council to argue for the reversal of these cuts.”

“Cuts like this by a Tory County Council are a taster of what a Cameron Government would be like. The Leader of the County Council is reported to be advising the Conservative’s at a national level on their local government policy. It is crucial that everyone works together to oppose these cuts in Hinckley and across Leicestershire.”