Labour calls on Westminster Council to save Paddington Law Centre

News from Westminster Labour

Labour calls on Westminster Council to save Paddington Law Centre

By Westminster Labour ⋅ July 12, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment

Westminster Labour Councillors have called on Westminster City Council to save Paddington Law Centre from closure by making a £50,000 grant out of the £850,000 in the Paddington Community and Social Fund. The Paddington Social and Community Social Fund was established through contributions from the developers of the Paddington Goods Yard in order to improve facilities for local residents in the area. The £850,000 in the Fund, which is administered by Westminster City Council, has been unspent for over a year despite huge cuts in local community services.

Paddington Law Centre has been operating in premises in Harrow Road in Queen’s Park Ward for over 35 years and gives advice on housing, social services, consumer and debt issues to thousands of residents in need of help. There are queues outside the Law Centre premises on a regular basis.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said; “Unless Westminster City Council acts quickly Paddington Law Centre will close and leave a huge gap in the advice services available to local residents. There is nealy £1 million in the Paddington Community and Social Fund and just a small contribution from this fund could save the Law Centre from closure. I wrote to the Council’s Chief Executive about this last week and I am still awaiting even an acknowledgement to my request. There is a sign up in the City Hall lobby proclaiming the responsiveness of the Council’s customer services; “We don’t have to be asked twice”, says the sign. Sadly for the Paddington Law Centre, the Council’s willingness to help has, so far, failed this first simple test.”

Other news from Westminster Labour