Centre gets short straw
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 29th July 1999.
HAVERHILL Volunteer Centre is being denied its fair share of funding, it has been claimed.
West Suffolk MP Richard Spring said the centre received substantially less from Suffolk County Council than other neighbouring towns.
In a letter to Bill Bulpin, the Director of Social Services for Suffolk County Council, Mr Spring said he had recently visited the centre to hand over a small cheque given to him as a result of taking part in a Harris poll.
Mr Spring said he had been "absolutely dismayed" to hear grant aid given to the Haverhill Centre by the county council was substantially less than other towns.
He asked for an urgent investigation of the financial position, followed by steps to redress the situation if necessary.
"If my information is correct, the sum given to Haverhill is only £3,000, while in Sudbury it is £6,000 and in Bury St Edmunds also a substantially higher figure," he said.
"If, indeed, this is true, I want to express my considerable concern that Haverhill is being discriminated against in this way.
"You must be aware there are a number of people in Haverhill with social and other problems and the volunteer centre is playing a crucial part in seeking to address these difficulties.
"There cannot be any basis whatsoever for Haverhill to be drawing the short straw on this."
Eric Bowman, the Volunteer Centre acting chairman, said he believed the matter was being investigated.
Although he believed the centre was doing a good job, he said funding was always a struggle and they could do more with extra cash.
Maggie Lee, a member of Suffolk County Council, said Volunteer Centre Manager Mary Parodi had contacted her about the apparent discrepancy, which see was looking in to.
West Suffolk MP Richard Spring said the centre received substantially less from Suffolk County Council than other neighbouring towns.
In a letter to Bill Bulpin, the Director of Social Services for Suffolk County Council, Mr Spring said he had recently visited the centre to hand over a small cheque given to him as a result of taking part in a Harris poll.
Mr Spring said he had been "absolutely dismayed" to hear grant aid given to the Haverhill Centre by the county council was substantially less than other towns.
He asked for an urgent investigation of the financial position, followed by steps to redress the situation if necessary.
"If my information is correct, the sum given to Haverhill is only £3,000, while in Sudbury it is £6,000 and in Bury St Edmunds also a substantially higher figure," he said.
"If, indeed, this is true, I want to express my considerable concern that Haverhill is being discriminated against in this way.
"You must be aware there are a number of people in Haverhill with social and other problems and the volunteer centre is playing a crucial part in seeking to address these difficulties.
"There cannot be any basis whatsoever for Haverhill to be drawing the short straw on this."
Eric Bowman, the Volunteer Centre acting chairman, said he believed the matter was being investigated.
Although he believed the centre was doing a good job, he said funding was always a struggle and they could do more with extra cash.
Maggie Lee, a member of Suffolk County Council, said Volunteer Centre Manager Mary Parodi had contacted her about the apparent discrepancy, which see was looking in to.
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