| Díon funding proposed for
Hammersmith Irish Centre  By
Elaine Sheridan
SPECULATION continues to mount this week over the future of one of the most
popular Irish centres in London.
Hammersmith’s Irish Centre has been the hub of Irish culture in
west London for the past 12 years but now council bosses are looking to
transfer responsibility for funding to a new voluntary sector body while
retaining ownership of the site in Black’s Road.
If plans go ahead the centre will be funded by the Díon Committee
with services continuing as normal.
Negotiations are still ongoing with regards to lease terms and the transfer
of staff and at the moment it is business as usual at the west London venue.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s cabinet member for community services
Councillor Anthony Lillis said: “The Irish Centre provides a highly-valued
service and has built up a reputation as one of the country’s best
Irish centres.
“We want to maintain and develop the fantastic service it provides.
“Negotiations on this are continuing so there is nothing more to say
at this stage other than future funding for the centre would be secured
by this new arrangement and that our aim is to maintain and develop the
service.”
Until now the centre has been part-funded to the tune of £100,000
by Hammersmith and Fulham Council and has provided an invaluable number
of services to the huge Irish community in the surrounding areas.
The centre has built up an enviable reputation throughout those 12 years
and any doubts about its future would be detrimental to the neighbourhood.
Users of the centre are unconvinced about the council’s commitment
to its future.
One regular at the centre said: “This is disgraceful. What the council
is doing is just wrong.
“They are washing their hands of the thousands of Irish people living
and working in the borough. After all we’ve contributed to London
and to the whole of Britain over the years it’s shocking.”
Both council officials and the Díon Committee are still in talks
at the moment and final details of the agreement are expected to be made
within the next 10 days.
A spokesperson for the Irish Embassy said: “At present we are still
trying to agree terms and conditions for the future of the Irish centre
and everything is operating as normal.
“We hope to have an announcement in the next 10 days.”
n Comment see page 24.
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