I will fight tooth and nail to keep civic hall (From Warrington Guardian)

I will fight tooth and nail to keep civic hall

REPORTS that the existing Winsford Civic Hall will be relocated are premature according to a town councillor who is determined to continue fighting.

Clr Don Beckett is still confident he can stop proposals to relocate the civic hall to Winsford Sports Complex in an £8million project.

He said: "There is a lot of fight in Winsford.

"People want to retain it and it would be a great loss to the town if it went."

Vale Royal Borough Councillor John Grimshaw told the Guardian last week that the plans would go ahead and hoped building work will start later this year.

He said: "Two committees have now voted in favour of a new facility at The Drumber so it will go ahead.

"We hope to be laying the sods by December and I think that is quite a realistic target."

Architects will now draw up plans for the facility which would also see a new swimming pool built.

The proposals would also mean the Dingle Centre would close which Clr Beckett believes would be a huge mistake.

He said: "People want to retain the civic hall but also the Dingle Centre.

"Where else can people over 50 drop in and get lunch for just over £1?"

A public consultation will take place before the final plans are agreed and Clr Beckett is encouraging as many people as possible to fight the proposals.

He said: "I will fight tooth and nail to protect it from being knocked down.

"If I fail it will not be through lack of trying."