Return Fisheries Grant

A LEIGH councillor is campaigning after Southend Council’s Development Control Committee officers recommended a change of use of an old store building in Leigh Library Gardens that had been earmarked for the local fishing industry.

Leigh Lib Dem councillor Peter Wexham was instrumental in getting money from the FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group) to transform the building, located just west of the Bus stop in Broadway West by the park.

 Coun Wexham explained: “I attended and spoke at the Development Control Committee meeting saying how I was outraged that the Council wanted to take this away from the fishing industry when money from the FLAG was spent by the council on modifying the building.”

Coun Wexham explained how the refurbishment originally came about: “It was hard to find anywhere in the Old Town and after looking around, the Parks Department came up with allowing us to have this store in the Library Gardens.

“This would be for things such as safety at sea and on shore, developing seafood to the market and public, and filleting and cooking seafood.

“A lot of money from FLAG was spent on fitting this old store out with the facilities needed at the same time someone was needed to take bookings and it was agreed that Leigh Town Council would carry out this and rather than waste it, other community groups could use it when not in use by the fishermen.”

Coun Wexham added: “This was also going to be controlled by Leigh Town Council as they had asked if the building could be used when not in use by the fishing industry, to which the Leigh Port Partnership agreed.”

Now, the Council have recommending that the building be leased to the private sector.

Coun Wexham insisted he would be chasing the Estates Department in light of this recommendation: “If they are intent on doing this sort of change of use then the fisheries money should come back to be spent for the benefit of the fishing industry.

“This funding was part of a package to take Leigh into the future.

“If they rent this out as an office, the Fisheries Grant should be returned to the Leigh Port Partnership,” added Coun Wexham.

Picture: The old store is located near Library Gardens’ bus stop. Pic Google Maps

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