A PUBLIC meeting will be held to discuss the future of Hubberston Community Centre, following fears the building may be ‘relinquished’ to save the county council money.

Organised by local county councillors Viv and Mike Stoddart, the meeting will be a chance for anyone who uses the centre to share why it is important to them, and hopefully help safeguard it for the community.

“Since the news broke that the future of the popular Hubberston Community Centre was in doubt, Mike and I have been contacted by many people eloquent and passionate about the value they place on the services based at the centre, not least Little Acorns Playgroup which is open 50 weeks of the year and employs ten staff with 55 children attending every week,” said Cllr Viv Stoddart.

“In this deprived area, the centre provides users with a range of services for the very young to the elderly.

“It is also home to Milford Haven's only RVS-run lunch club; Milford Haven Town Band; adult learners; and bingo sessions organised by Ladies' Glades.

“This meeting is an opportunity for the community to make their voice heard.

“Mike and I hope that the young people affected by the council's proposal to ferry Hakin and Hubberston youth club members to Milford Haven Youth Centre will come to the meeting to air their views, or contact us direct.”

Little Acorns Playgroup supervisor Ceri Hawkings said she hoped a solution could be found to keep the building open.

The centre sits on doorstep of new Fairways estate – which is home to many young families - and right in the middle of the catchment area for Flying Start - a Welsh Government initiative which aims to give children in deprived areas the best possible start before they begin school.

After being forced to vacate their last premises due to a rates hike in 2010, Ceri said the playgroup had found a real “home” at the centre, and would struggle to find somewhere else big enough to accommodate it.

“The centre plays a huge role in the community,” she said. “What we need is a dedicated manager as there are so many different services on offer.”

The meeting will take place on Friday, October 3, at the centre, and start at 6.30pm.

Chairing the meeting will be mayor of Milford Haven, and former trustee of the centre, Cllr Eric Harries.

For more information, email oldgrumpy.mike@virgin.net or vivien.stoddart @virgin.net, or telephone 01646 692758.