Today I spent some time in St Georges looking at the Gower street building and I must say what a sad sight. The building itself despite how it looks really is amazing and gives you a unique glimpse back to when community’s really were community’s and not just a place to live.
The current condition of the building is a sad reflection of the times we live in and the steady decline in all services inside our estates.
Just above the now boarded up entrance is a sign that says St Georges Youth club, this is very symbolic due to the condition of the building is at the same level as local youth service provision.
Buildings like this and the decline in youth services really do show what we value as a society and it’s sad to say but the local authorities really do need to think about how they manage services we entrust to them. The word entrust is very important as most local councils only plan of action is to sell anything they can and build homes in an effort to make the books balance …. Please listen to local people; this is not what we want!
Looking around the building I also see great opportunity for a community eager for change, a community that wants the building given to them by the late Earl Granville Leveson Gower in the 1800’s back from the council. Yes the council may be able to say we own it and we have the law on our side but I think the council could never win the moral argument of selling this beautiful building of to developers. The people want it back; they want to run it …. They want what’s best for them, stop doing things for people that they can do for themselves, empower them.
I too often hear the words “we know best” spoken by councillors and professionals but I only have to look back over the past 4 years to see how wrong they all got it and how they abandoned public services in an effort to save money. The residents of St Georges did not abandon their community in the way the council did and will always do what’s best for the people, old and young … if only they were given the chance to do it I’m sure they would breath life back into this 140 year old building.
I must say I do admire the brave residents who are trying so hard to save this beautiful building in the heart of their community, remember once it’s gone it’s gone.
Leigh Ricketts 