A vital community centre looks to have had its future secured thanks to a slice of nearly £12M worth of funding. The John Holt Community Centre at Washacre has been a lifeline for hundreds of families across the town thanks to the work of the Westhoughton Assist Service. The group warned the future of the centre could be at risk without improvements to the walls and windows, but Bolton Council has now said it is committed to the facility’s future.
Council cabinet member for property Cllr Sue Haworth said: “At the John Holt Centre the current tenant, on a long lease from the council, is WAVE CIC. “There were grounds to severe the lease last year. Bolton Council has approved nearly £12M for building maintenance across the borough (Image: Newsquest) “But another community group in Westhoughton, Westhoughton Community Assist WCA were running their service from a car park in the rain, wind and snow and were knocking on the council property services door asking for rescue.
“We found some space for them at the John Holt Centre. “Believe me finding space in the council’s community buildings is not easy as there are a limited number and they are well leased. “Shortly after WCA moved into the centre, senior property officers were able to support WAVE CIC with the lease, as members of WCA joined the board of WAVE.
” The Westhoughton Assist Service has run out of the John Holt Centre for the last six months. The organisation was started in 2020 by Janet Colley who alon.