Gamesley Community & Youth Centre is an integral part of the local community, playing an especially important role in hosting activities for children and teenagers in the area.

This has been reflected in the level of support for the movement against closing it, with over a thousand locals already signing a petition calling for it to be saved.

The Community Centre was also originally constructed due to the support of local residentsthrough the ‘Buy a Brick’ scheme, which further highlights the strength of the ties Gamesley Community & Youth Centre has with residents.

Currently, the leasehold of the building is owned by Derbyshire County Council while the freehold is owned by High Peak Borough Council. 

In recent discussions, Derbyshire County Council offered to give the leasehold to High Peak Borough Council for free, handing management over to Labour-controlled High Peak Borough Council, led by Councillor Anthony McKeown, who personally represents Gamesley ward. 

Transferring the leasehold and management to High Peak Borough Council would help secure the future of the building. However, High Peak Borough Council have refused this offer. It is not currently clear why they have done so.

Robert Largan MP, who recently spent an evening at Gamesley Boxing Club (which calls the community centre home), has organised a special public meeting at Gamesley Community & Youth Centre to give local people the chance to have their say.

The meeting will be held at Gamesley Community & Youth Centre at 5:30pm on Friday 15 March and is open to all Gamesley residents.

Officers from Derbyshire County Council are attending. Councillor Anthony McKeown, Labour Leader of High Peak Borough Council has been invited to attend as well.

This is a strictly non-political meeting, as such attendance will be limited to Gamesley residents and its directly elected representatives of all parties, who have all been invited.

Robert Largan MP commented: “Gamesley Community & Youth Centre is a vital local facility, that was built with funds raised by Gamesley residents. It is a home to amazing local groups like The Hangout Club. I recently had a great evening with Steve at Gamesley Boxing Club, seeing the brilliant work they do with local children.

“There are lots of rumours and different claims flying around. I don’t care about the politics. I just want to find a way to keep the community centre open for Gamesley residents. We need both councils to work together for Gamesley!

“That’s why I’ve organised this special public meeting so that local people can have their say and question representatives from both councils.

“Let’s all work together to save Gamesley Community & Youth Centre!”