Latest news with #Hall.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Promised £4m funding for Whitchurch Civic Centre not found
Money that was supposed to be set aside to bring Whitchurch Civic Centre back into use has not been identified, Shropshire Council has centre has been closed since September 2023 after it was discovered to have used potentially dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac).In February, when the authority was run by the Conservatives, its cabinet agreed to commit up to £4m within its capital strategy towards the repair or rebuilding of the centre. But the council's current administration, run by the Liberal Democrats, confirmed that no funding was identified and put into the capital programme. The BBC has contacted the Conservatives for funding was due to be used to rebuild and redevelop the site or create a new roof for the centre, depending on whether or not government or external funding could be council said the likely aspiration was to redevelop the site and create a new, modern, fit-for-purpose and energy-efficient building. This was emerging as the preferred option, said the council, as opposed to replacing just the roof. 'Left in limbo' Andy Hall, who is both a Shropshire and Whitchurch town councillor, said he was "extremely disappointed" that the people in the town had been"hoodwinked into believing £4m had been set aside from the Conservative administration"."Money was set aside for this but it doesn't exist," said Hall."It leaves us in limbo until we have a finance meeting and identify where the money can come from."The North Shropshire Conservative Association has been contacted for Evans, the council's cabinet member for finance said: "I understand the expectation and the need for Whitchurch to have a functioning civic centre and promise that we will continue to discuss and share future plans".This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
29-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'One stop shop' opens to offer dementia support in Bristol
A new wellbeing hub and memory café has opened to support people living with dementia in Bristol. The Happy Days Hub at Ambition Lawrence Weston community centre, has been designed to offer fun activities and support, including legal and financial will be a central hub for cafés run by Bristol Dementia Action Alliance (BDAA) and run on Mondays and Fridays between 10:00 and and 14:00. The group is chaired by former carer Tony Hall who hopes it will provide a "one-stop shop" for people with dementia and their carers. Mr Hall was a carer for his wife Barbara for more than 20 years, until her death in 2022. He set up BDAA to help others following her dementia diagnosis. As well as a memory café, the aim of the hub, which opened on Monday, at Lawrence Weston is to provide social and practical support to help people navigate a dementia BDAA said the pilot was the first of its kind."When you get a diagnosis of dementia, or you become a carer for someone with dementia, you suddenly have a lot of questions," said Mr Hall."So we have created a hub where people can go to get support."Whether it's financial advice or legal advice, we'll provide professionals who can give advice on what they are concerned about." 'Socialise and reminisce' The BDAA already runs Happy Days Memory Cafés in Westbury-on-Trym, Shirehampton and Sea are open during specific days, for two-hour living with dementia and their carers can meet for tea, coffee and a slice of cake, and take part in organised activities."We're known as the tea-time charity," said Mr Hall."People come along and they can socialise and reminisce."A fourth café based in Avonmouth is due to close. "It hasn't really taken off so we're going to close it and take it to the hub where there will be more people around," Mr Hall added.
