Local Amenities under Threat

Friday is the day when the fate of the Wyeside Arts Centre is decided. So far, the online petition to keep it open has over 2,000 signatures on it, and more than 740 people have signed paper petitions to save it. In the Brecon & Radnor Express last week, the centre director, Guy Roderick, said that, over the last five years, Wyeside has managed to promote an average of 60 live performances a year for an average £4,200 a year in subsidy, and over 800 artistic and cultural events a year, with an average of 40,000 visitors a year - which has to be good value for money. The Centre also supports local arts, like shows by Builth Wells Community Arts and Mid Powys Youth Theatre, and exhibitions by Builth Wells Photographic Society. The Assembly Rooms above the original Market Hall were converted into a cinema in 1911, making it one of the oldest cinemas still in use in Wales.
If it closes, the nearest cinemas are in Brecon, or Newtown, both long journeys from Builth.

It's not the only local amenity under threat. This week's B&R has the front page headline "Council Cuts are in the air", with the news that leisure centres, libraries and youth centres are in danger of closure. Hay could lose the swimming pool at the school, and opening hours at Brecon leisure centre have already been cut.

And then there are the local post offices, which have been told to expect visits from officials drawing up a closure list at any time. Local communities wouldn't just lose the ability to buy stamps conveniently - most little post offices are shops as well.

And then there are the local hospitals, like Bronllys, which have been threatened with closure - and Brecon War Memorial Hospital has been threatened with down-grading several times over the last few years. Some cancer treatment has to take place at Cheltenham, which is such a long way away that some patients have refused treatment because they can't face the journey. This was taken up as a campaign for Hereford hospital to be able to offer the same treatment, by the Hereford Times.

And then there are the local schools - the Hereford Times reported last week that 37 small schools are to close across the county, despite strong opposition from parents.

So, arts centres, leisure centres, libraries, youth centres, post offices, hospitals, schools - is there anything left?