ALTON U3A (University of the Third Age) members are among those who have

signed a petition, raised by the Alton Labour Party, calling on East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) not to cut funding to Alton Community Centre.

Gathering signatures onpaper and online, the Save Alton Community Centre

petition raised 870 signatures in less than a week.

It has been launched to raise public awareness of EHDC’s intention to withdraw

£6,000 of partnership funding from the centre which is used to support day-to-day running costs.

Alton Labour Party members are calling on EHDC to maintain grants at current

levels. They have openly stated their position to local district councillors and are

urging people to get behind the petition to try and get the decision reversed.

According to branch secretary Ian Abbott, the aim is to get 1,000 signatures, at

which point they will hand the petition to EHDC.

Already lending support is Alton U3A which has more than 500 members and runs more than 30 of its 40-plus courses (some weekly, some every two weeks and some once a month) at Alton Community Centre, between September and May.

Alton U3A chairman Rob Smith said: “This results in hundreds of our members

attending the centre every single week during that period.

“We are the community centre’s largest customer and we know how hard the

centre’s staff and trustees work to maintain it as a going concern and to provide

facilities at prices that community groups such as ourselves can afford.

“We are deeply concerned that any lessening in EHDC’s support for the

centre will result either in it closing or it having to raise charges to an extent that

would make it impossible for us to continue our programmes at their current

level.

“Many of members who attend our courses come by car so EHDC may wish to

factor into its ‘saving’, if it reduces its grant, the loss of car parking revenue that will follow. In addition, many of those who are coming for courses also take the opportunity to go into town and spend money in our local shops. These may well take their custom elsewhere. Is this what the council wants?”

Mr Smith added: “These are the hard financial facts. Alton U3A offers people

who are no longer working full time countless opportunities for friendship, physical and mental exercise and huge amounts of fun and enjoyment.

“These are all important factors in maintaining one’s health as one ages. It would

be incredibly short-sighted and vindictive if the council were to undermine a truly valuable local asset. We very much hope that they will not be so foolish as to follow through on their proposal.”

The petition can be signed online at getpetition.com/petitions/savealton-

community-centre.