Together we can make Fishersgate a better place
I am a Trustee of the Fishersgate Community Association. I have been for just over a year. I joined the F.C.A. in the hope that I would be able to help with kick-starting again the good the F.C.A. had previously provided for the community.
I have lived in Fishersgate for 14 years now, and used to use the Community Centre often. Even when F.C.A. used to run the old hall, my grandparents used to use it with the Southwick 88 Club, and my children went to playschool there. It may seem that my interest is purely because I’m a trustee but it’s not. First and foremost I am a resident of Fishersgate and because I’ve made good use of the Community Centre in the past, I hope to help to continue with the good the F.C.A have done, and hope to have somewhere for my own children and other families to have the opportunity to use.
I hope that on reading this letter, you the councillors will see that I am just one person out of the community that has made use of the centre in many ways, that just isn’t there to used anymore.
When my children were younger they attended the after-school club three times a week which they enjoyed very much. They attended numerous birthday parties there and I also held their own Birthday parties there because I could afford to rent it at their prices, which were a lot cheaper that anywhere else. I liked the fact that when you hired the hall, you could also use the rink for football/skating parties and if it got dark then the flood lights were turned on for no extra charge, In the past we have attended the fireworks/ raffle get togethers. Various BBQs.Christmas bazaars, jumble sales, parties, line dancing. Jubilee Party, and I even remember taking my children to watch a wrestling competition held there. Let’s not forget the cheap food drinks you could buy and of course I used to go and vote there on polling day.
There isn’t anywhere for my children to go now. they are 13 and 11. My 11 year old is very sporty. He enjoys most sports, even riding his bike on the the BMX humps in Fishersgate Rec (which is now being taken away to be put into use by Eastbrook Primary South School) I know there has been a youth football team put together, but that doesn’t cater for all children. My 13 year old isn’t very sporty, but he does enjoy skating. Rather than him having to skate in the street it would be perfect for him and others to make use of the roller rink, (which at the moment is a total waste of a space which could be used fro multi sports) . We all as a family used to skate on the rink which is great fun and very good exercise. I myself used to attend the line dancing classes which took place every week up until the hall had to close after the arson attacks. I enjoyed line dancing with my friend. We had a great laugh and often worked up a sweat. We also held a charity line dancing event in aid of breast cancer care which was very successful.
Why shouldn’t Fishersgate have a community centre, run by a community association consisting of volunteers, as do Portslade, Southwick, Shoreham etc. Why shouldn’t the people of Fishersgate be able to access affordable facilities in walking distance to their homes. Local children should be able to have a choice of activities in a safe and mangaged environment.
I read a local paper article about the laundrette in Fishersgate suggesting it was a Community Centre. It appears to be offering statutary services only and isn’t a very big place. I’m not saying it isn’t doing any good for the community. I hope people are making use of whats offered, otherwise it would be a total waste of tax payers money. There doesn’t appear to be any offer of hall hire, bingo, dance classes, karate etc. There is of course a healthy living centre children’s centre which is hopefully going to happen in the church which may be able to offer such activities. BUT not at affordable rates. The F.C.A used to hire the hall for £20 for 3 hrs.I suspect that W.S.C.C. would probably charge more e.g. Eastbrook Primary Sounth hire their hall for £16 hr. And above all remembering that Fishersgate is one of the most deprived areas of the country, so places need to be affordable.
I believe, if the community centre is re-opened, it would encourage more people in Fishersgate to get out of their homes and make use of all facilities, in one way or another, and eventually lead to a good community spirit. If people have somehere to go and use, then they start to respect it, and help to look after it, and hopefully that respect would pass on to their children, and then their children’s children and together we can make Fishersgate a better place.
Thank you for taking time to read my letter.
Sarah Villiers.
