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Leeds: Battle to save New Wortley charity lifeline
A CHARITY could be forced to close its doors as a result of Government cuts.
People in New Wortley are calling on the Government to save Yorkshire Planning Aid which helps disadvantaged communities to engage with the planning system.
Locals in New Wortley say it was a lifeline to them – and it stopped their community from being “razed to the ground” in 2009.
Resident Maureen Ingham said: “I had lived in my house for 20 years and paid for it.
“I had owned it for three months and they wanted to knock it down!
“I saved my house and it was purely down to Yorkshire Planning Aid. They give the community a voice and a sense of empowerment. They involve every single person and allow everyone to have a voice.
“David Cameron’s Big Society is not about us, it’s about people dictating to us. When will he get in touch with us about the Big Society? Because it’s right here.”
Mrs Ingham, who chairs the New Wortley Action Group, added: “Yorkshire Planning Aid stopped our community being razed.
“We are the people who live here and we need people who will be honest with us.”
The 2009 campaign, featured extensively in the YEP, saw locals fighting to save 36-run down council homes which were due to be demolished.
One block of homes was eventually refurbished and 11 properties were saved from the bulldozers.
An area of wasteland which had become a trouble spot was also turned into a community garden which is now flourishing.
The estate also has a gas supply for the first time.
The charity, part of a national project, employs four full-time and one part-time staff.
It has a network of 170 volunteers.
Last year, the charity helped 38,000 people and 1,092 neighbourhood and community organisations nationally.
However, under new Government plans, charities like Planning Aid must apply for grants from a new Neigbourhood Fund of £3 million.
The previous funding was £3.5 million a year.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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