Frustration at shut community hub

A Hattersley charity founder has criticised a housing association for restricting access to the community hub.

Emma Layla, who founded Reach4Change Hattersley, says she’s left frustrated with Onward Homes restricting access to the Hattersley Hub. The charity deliver meals and food parcels to the elderly and those with serious health conditions each week.

The charity have previously used rooms inside the centre, but were then moved out to the car park and now cannot use the facilities. Emma said: “It doesn’t feel like a community centre. We’re having issues getting availability on rooms.

“It’s shut at the minute with the pandemic. They say NHS staff are in there but what I cant understand is there is a massive room there that you could fit 500 people in. Why can’t 6 volunteers, under the hubs insurance, run a community group from there?”

At the moment, the charity help around 60 people a week across Stalybridge, Newton, Hyde and Hattersley.

Tameside Reporter contacted Onward Homes and they said that they are following current guidance and want to reopen as soon as it is safe.

A spokesperson for the housing provider said: “The safety of our community is our top priority. Current Government guidance is that community centres must close, other than for a limited number of exempt activities.

“We recognise the important role the Hub plays in the local community and are keen to reopen the centre as soon as we are able to do so safely. We will keep the situation under review and update local residents and user groups as and when the guidance changes.

“Going forward we are keen to ensure local residents are getting the best use of the Hub, and welcome views from the community on how to do this.”

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