A campaign leader pitched her tent outside Redbridge Town Hall yesterday to appeal the council’s decision to close Wanstead Youth Centre.
Liz Martins, leader of Save Our Wanstead Youth Centre (SOWYC) campaign group, began her overnight appeal at 3:30pm on Monday evening in a final effort to get Redbridge Council to overturn their decision to close the building on Sunday 15 October.
Redbridge Council Cabinet decided to close the youth centre on 14 September after an April 2022 review by building surveyor Palmer Glew estimated £2.4million of investment was needed to meet modern health and safety standards.
The council plans to reopen the site as an Education Hub and Youth Centre at an unconfirmed date.
The youth centre currently has 1000 weekly users, including a 200-strong gymnastics group and a cricket group with 50 members.
The building contains a sports hall, stage, and music studio, and is used mostly by young people between 13-19 years old.
Martins’s demonstration is an appeal to council leader Jas Athwal, requesting he suspend Sunday’s closure and meet her and SOWYC to discuss the future of the centre.
She claimed Counsellor Athwal has ignored her emails requesting a meeting since 22 January 2023.
She said: “It’s been nine-plus months, and they have not convened a single consultation meeting, which is absolutely appalling when all we’re trying to do is to sit down around the table to engage with them.
“And this is their attitude, and it’s just so small-minded.”
Martins also said the council has not adequately announced its plans for the building after Sunday’s closing date and feared leaving it empty risks vandalism and further damage.
She said: “What are they afraid of?
“It makes one suspicious that because they’re refusing to consult, it makes me suspicious about their ulterior motives.”
Martins claimed Mark Baigent, Redbridge’s Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture, banned her from using the town hall toilets during her demonstration but said she would remain outside the building for as long as her health and other commitments allow.
SOWYC are encouraging people to bring messages and flowers to the youth centre at noon on Sunday in tribute to the centre.
The group will arrange the flowers into a wall to protect the youth centre, as a final appeal against the council’s decision.
A Redbridge Council spokesperson said: “Proposals for the future of Wanstead Youth Centre have been through significant engagement with the public, and with the people and community groups who currently hire the building and facilities.
“As well as completing an online survey, with open text answers, the campaign group have attended several Council committee meetings, including Full Council and Cabinet meetings, to raise questions and make statements about the future of the site.
“Council officers have also met members of the campaign group to answer their questions and share information.
“The democratic process has seen us take this through scrutiny and full council, and we have spoken directly with Ms Martin and community groups, in private meetings and at formal council meetings, the most recent one having been held on 14th September, when many of her questions were answered directly.
“We understand and share the frustration at having to temporarily close the building for works to take place, but we cannot carry out these works, ensure the safety of the building and the people who use it, and keep it open throughout.
“The proposal is for the building to be converted and reopened as an Education and Youth Hub, providing alternative education provision, a tuition centre and early years play and development, whilst continuing to offer community use at the evenings and weekends.
“The Council will continue to consult the community and potential users of the site, as part of finalising the full business case.
“We continue to engage with Ms Martin as we all want the same result in a thriving Education and Youth Hub in Wanstead, for all the community to enjoy.”
Image credit: Liz Martins
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