Shailesh Vara, Member of Parliament for North West Cambridgeshire, recently met with Ms Claire Swindale, secretary of the newly formed Orton Community Association, along with other local residents and members of the Association at The Tunnel Play Centre, Orton Malborne. Ms Swindale and her colleagues are trying to persuade Peterborough City Council to let them have the Centre so that they can use it for local community purposes, after it was closed by the Council in May 2013.

The Association was formed in July 2013 following the closure of The Tunnel Play Centre and its aim is to provide a building for use by the entire local community. It is hoped that a core tenant, such as a playgroup, can be found for the building during school term time and for free and subsidised events to be put on during weekends and school holidays for all age groups.

Whilst the Association currently has short term use of the site from the Council, it would like a more permanent basis for the Centre so that it can run groups, hire out the hall and generally market it for future use. Activities that are proposed include: car boot sales, dance classes, a Christmas Fayre and a Christmas Party.

Mr Vara said:
“I was very pleased to visit The Tunnel Play Centre recently following an invitation from the Orton Community Association and I was very impressed with what I saw. The site has huge potential and is well enclosed with plenty of outside space for children to play and explore. The building also has a great history behind it, having been erected by the Development Corporation in the 1970’s and used for storage when the Ortons were built.

“I was very encouraged by Claire Swindale and her colleagues wishing to maximise use of the Centre for the good of the community for which they have my full support. I will be writing to the Council and Cross Keys Homes to explore the best way forward.”

Claire Swindale, Secretary of the Orton Community Association, commented:
“It was a pleasure to meet Mr Vara and show him around the building. We discussed our plans and hopes for the place and we were delighted that he was so supportive of The Tunnel project.”

Photo: Shailesh Vara MP with members of the Orton Community Association, from left to right: Ms Kelly Fitzsimmons, Mr Vara MP, Ms Shelley Bradshaw and Ms Claire Swindale.