New era begins with opening of £2m Blantyre community centre

Oct 9 2008 by Graham Fraser, Hamilton Advertiser

BLANTYRE Miners’ Community Resource Centre was officially opened last week.

The £2m facility will host a number of Lanarkshire groups, including Blantyre Miners’ Amateur Boxing Club. The launch ceremony was attended by a number of local politicians and Vernon Jones MBE, chief executive of the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO).

Gerry Baldwin, manager of the centre, commented: “Our objective is to make the Blantyre Miners’ Community Resource Centre the focal point of community activity.

“We believe that this is an on-going process with new groups and services developing continually in response to need.

“The centre will be open to the community from morning to late evening, seven days a week.”

Eddie McAvoy, leader of South Lanarkshire Council, Tommy McAvoy MP and all four Blantyre councillors were present at the opening.

Robert Thornton, chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the centre, said: “This centre has been four years in the planning – from the consultation period through to the handover.

“We are hopeful that the local community will make good use of the centre and participate in the programmes.

“In December, we will be launching the new community cinema so it really should be exciting times.

“Blantyre Miners Welfare Charitable Society could not have done this without support of the Robertson Trust, The Big Lottery, Changing Places, South Lanarkshire Council, Coalfield Regeneration Trust, European Union and Lloyds TSB.”

GRAND OPENING: Councillor Eddie McAvoy (front row, left) and Tommy McAvoy MP (front row, second right) join representatives from Blantyre Miners’ Community Resource Centre and local councillors at the grand opening.