Offer defers play project closure

The Venture was established more than 30 years ago

A play scheme on a deprived Wrexham estate is to stay open for another week while a revised offer of funding from the borough council is examined.

The management committee of the Venture, in Caia Park, met on Tuesday evening to discuss its options.

They voted unanimously to defer closure until next Tuesday to clarify the conditions of a £40,000 funding offer.

It had been due to close on Wednesday after Wrexham Council announced plans to reduce its funding by 70%.

The council had told the Venture it would be cutting its £170,000 funding to £40,000.

Originally the project would have received that money in September, but on Monday a revised offer was made which said the Venture could have the money now, but with conditions.

Venture founder and manager Malcolm King said the project could not remain open long term on such a reduced core revenue, but the committee had to consider accepting the money to create time to find funding from other sources.

Opening hours

He said the terms of the council's funding allocation needed clarification and he would be doing that urgently on Wednesday.

The committee also discussed the possibility of making staff cuts and reducing the opening hours of the Venture as a way of cutting costs with reduced income.

They say in the meantime, they will strive to maintain services.

Staff at the centre had previously said they had no option but to close it after Wrexham Council revealed plans to cut funding and put more cash into other projects in the area.

Legal action was also being pursued to persuade the council to change its mind.

On Monday, the council said it was not offering more money, but said "progress has been made on the terms and conditions relating to the transitional funding available for the Venture".

Juvenile crime

The scheme has been running for almost 31 years and was once chosen as a model for other children's centres.

It was set up in 1978, and its management claim it has helped reduce the juvenile crime rate in the area by half.

The project was chosen by the assembly government in 2003 as the model for its flagship programme of integrated children's centres, now rolled out across Wales.