Protesters fight to stop community centre closing

AROUND 100 placard-waving protesters gathered at Longstone Community Centre last night to show their opposition to its inclusion on the closure list.

Colinton/Fairmilehead Councillor Jason Rust, who is backing the campaign, said: "The council have referred to the building as a temporary unit. This 'temporary unit' has been in the school grounds of Longstone Primary for 30 years and used as an after school club for at least 15 years. To close such a building and leave it empty, as proposed, would be a potential target for vandalism as well as a loss of a valued and much needed centre."

After school club playworker Lynsey Nairns added: "They're proposing that they move us into the school, which has very limited facilities and we won't be able to provide the services we do at the moment, which are required by the Care Commission, like quiet areas and separate snack areas.

"There's also an issue of communication – we found out about the closures in the Evening News."