Madam, my name is Ian Gray, and along with Darren Woodley, I run the Tudorville Boxing Club. We are both ABA coaches, CRB checked and have attended a child protection course and first aid course. We have both boxed and been involved in the sport for more than 20 years. We give our time and energy freely and open twice a week at Tudorville youth centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays 6.30pm – 9.00pm which costs us £19.50 per session. We also attend three amateur boxing shows a month all over the country. We have a regular attendance of at least 20 boxers from ages 11 – 25 and have seven registered ABA boxers.

Darren and I also belong to the Tudorville Community Association which is the main reason for my letter. For some time we have been involved in looking at the possibilities of taking on the lease at Tudorville youth centre because Herefordshire council had hinted the building could become surplus to their requirements. In 2006 a feasibility study was lottery funded.

The main results of the study showed that if the building was refurbished to a good standard people would use it for a youth centre, community centre, sporting activities, short mat bowls, bingo, activities for young people such as music events, after school clubs, dancing lessons and many more activities. The total cost to refurbish the building to a good standard to include demolitions and alterations, brick and block work, repairs to roof, carpentry and joinery, structural steel work, plumbing and heating, electrical installation, floor, wall and ceiling finishes, glazing and external doors, painting and decorating, kitchen units and external works would be £206,183.75. The Tudorville Community Association has worked hard fundraising to meet these costs and has to date raised a total of £40,000. Members have carried out table sales, sponsored walks, sponsored runs and an interactive community planning day.

We have also applied for a main lottery grant but unfortunately got turned down in the final stages. We have also applied for a grant from building regeneration grants and again been turned down. We are currently looking at grants available from the Energy Trust. We are currently over £160,000 short of the funds required to refurbish the building. On Wednesday, December 2nd a meeting was arranged at Tudorville youth centre between the Tudorville Community Association and Herefordshire council. In attendance was Community Association chairman Mr Colin Gray and members of the Community Association. Also in attendance were the Mayor, Councillor John Edwards, Councillor Ann Gray, Rotarian Mr Philip Wilson, retired youth worker Mr John Williams, Community Association architect Mr Jeffrey Clarke. Representing Herefordshire council was property service manager Mr Colin Birks.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a recent structural report carried out by Herefordshire council, the news was not good.

Herefordshire council announced that a total of £220,000 needed spending on the building. Some of these costs were similar to the Community Association findings but one major cost that was not covered was the need for a new roof sooner than a repair.

It was also announced that Children's Services, had that day, unknown to Councillor Ann Gray, declared Tudorville youth centre surplus to their requirements. They have a duty to supply youth services in Tudorville two evenings per week, which to my knowledge has not happened since October 2005. You have to ask yourself how they plan to do this now.

It was also stated at the meeting that Herefordshire council carry out full structural reports on all their public buildings every five years but there seems to be no evidence of any large amounts of money being spent on the building in the last 20 years. So has the building suddenly deteriorated or has it been neglected in the hope that one day some naïve group of people would take on the lease of the building and refurbish it at the same time, then return it to them in 20 years time in good condition.

I feel, and I am sure that many people must feel the same way, that our youths need somewhere to meet where they can take part in a wide range of structured activities. Surely by giving our youth something to do and belong to there is far less chance they will find themselves in trouble which is better and more cost effective than dealing with bored youngsters, getting into trouble then finding themselves on the wrong side of the law, I'm sure that a community needs a centre where all sorts of events can take place.

It was also said at the meeting that the council would review the situation with the Community Association in three months time. If by that time they were not prepared to take on the lease of a building that needs major work at great expense, it could be boarded up.

If anybody can offer any help or advice please contact our chairman Mr Colin Gray on 01989 567995.

Ian Gray, Ross