Star date: 31st March 2011 

BROUGHTON TURNS OUT TO SUPPORT ITS REC CENTRE

`Keep Salford A Fit City - Save Broughton Rec' ironic magenta t-shirt slogan

Over fifty people turned out tonight to show their support for Broughton Recreation Centre on Camp Street, which is in danger of closing as part of Salford Council's spending cuts.

Regular users of the Rec were joined by trade unionists, local families, passing kids and supporters of Salford Against The Cuts, with the most poignant banner reading `Save Our Rec – Tax The Rich'

Full story and more photos here…

At the Save Broughton Rec demonstration tonight, Bev Costello, a regular user of its facilities, told the crowd that the centre is more than about just getting fit…

"It's a place where people come to make friends, and a place to come to get your head straight" she said "If you've got a few bob and you're rich like David Cameron you're alright as you can go to a private club. But we can't afford that, we rely on this centre as a place to come…we need to keep it open for the people of Salford."

Over fifty people joined the demonstration called by Broughton Against The Cuts to protest at the injustice of shutting down a Fit City right in the middle of one of the city's most `deprived' areas – and an area that's had millions of pounds of public money thrown at private developers, Countryside Properties which is busy trying to create a `New Broughton'.

George Tapps, an ex-Salford councillor now speaking for Salford Against the Cuts, was convinced that Countryside Properties wanted Broughton Rec's land for development.

"The councillors are just sitting back and letting the officers do what they want" he told the demo "This is about the land."

His words were echoed by Paul Kelly, a local resident and supporter of Salford Against the Cuts…

"In an area like this the Rec shouldn't be shutting down, it should be enhanced for the kids" he said "It's just a joke. This place has got everything the community needs – but they're taking everything away from us, they've destroyed everything around here.

"The local councillors aren't here, which to me says they're quite happy to go along with this" he added "We need to ask them whether they're with the community or against us."

Jim Rogers, who uses the Rec's unique climbing wall, spoke on behalf of its users…

"It's not a climbing wall which is found around the rest of the country" he said "And there's a whole community of climbers who value what this wall has given them. We've got something special in the heart of this community which everyone can use, which is cheap, easy to access and within a lovely atmosphere."

The demo was supported by passing kids and people going into the Rec who were unaware of its possible closure. Commuters driving home beeped their horns in solidarity, while walkers stopped along Camp Street to sign the petitions. Many on the demo wore specially made ironic magenta t-shirts with the slogan `Keep Salford A Fit City - Save Broughton Rec'...

There is hope that Broughton Rec will stay open, as Broughton Database has shown an interest in taking over the centre. But at the moment everything is up in the air, as Salford City Council has sacrificed a Fit City to its spending cuts.

For further details of the Broughton Database takeover and quotes from Salford Council see here