Thurrock Tories are planning to close our Thameside Complex and they must be stopped. It is a popular and much valued local asset and is uniquely able to provide a hub for the Borough's growing cultural sector. It houses a library, the local history museum and archives and the Borough's only for purpose public theatre.
Initial proposals to close the Complex in 2021, met with strong local opposition, which galvanised into a business case for the facility to transfer into community ownership and be run by two local organisations, Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions (TLS), a CIC with a long and impressive track record of delivering services in the Borough and Thurrock International Celebration of Culture (TICC).
While closing and selling the Complex, presumably for private development, will generate some income for the Council, this amount is negligible when stacked against the Authority's colossal debt. The cost of losing this asset to the community cannot be overstated.
I have written to Government Minister Michael Gove asking him to intervene to stop the tory council selling off our Thameside. You can read about that letter in a Nub News article here.
Please join me in campaigning to Save Your Thameside Protest outside the Council Offices on 22 February at 6pm – please do join me if you can.
Image copyright: Kake. Licensed under creative commons.