A group of offenders have helped save an historic community centre in Deeside from closure. The Queensferry War Memorial Institute was in a sorry state until the Community Payback team jumped into action. They have given the Institute, just off the roundabout near the Asda superstore, a complete makeover, painting the whole of the exterior and one of the main rooms inside it.
The offenders have been ordered by local magistrates to provide their labour free of charge working on projects that benefit the community. All the projects are carried out under the supervision of the North Wales Probation Area.
The Institute, a wooden frame clad in corrugated iron sheets, has been designated as a Grade Two listed building because of its architectural importance. It was built in 1911 as a Liberal Club on land given by the local MP, William Glynne Charles Gladstone, the grandson of the Liberal Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone.
In the early 1920s, it was given to the local community and was renamed as the Queensferry War Memorial Institute. The names of the local men who perished in the First World War are displayed there.
Over the years, though, the condition of the building deteriorated and the number of local people using it dwindled.
Treasurer John Dodd explained “Architecturally, it is a very important building and we are very proud of it but not so long back it was virtually going to close because we were running out of funds. “We got hold of the Probation Service and they have been doing quite a bit of work for us – they have painted the whole of the outside and one of the rooms inside. The building was in a very bad state. It was a big job and we could not afford to pay for the work. The Community Payback team came to our rescue. The Probation Service have been marvellous. I have been very impressed with their attitude. One of them was a joiner and he did quite a bit of repair work for us as well which was a bonus.
He also paid tribute to the Institute’s committee chairman, Geoff Rudall, who painted the roof.
Mr Dodd’s wife, Jan, is also a member of the committee and she added: “The Institute has got a tremendous history and we hope it’s a little focal point in Queensferry and we are determined to keep it going. “The Community Payback team have done very good work and we are very impressed with them. We have also had insulation for the loft donated by Kronospan in Pentre. We would certainly ask the Probation Service for their help again and very much recommend them to other people. They do a good job and they are literally paying back to the community.”
It was music to the ears of Community Payback Supervisor Tony Heath who is proud of the contribution made by the team in his charge.
He said: “It’s been a really big job for us and we’ve been really lucky in that we’ve only lost one day because of the rain. The team has done a good job and they feel appreciated which is a big bonus. All the community have been very supportive and that’s been big benefit. The team is seeing that the community gets something tangible out of their efforts and that reinforces what we are trying to achieve. Community Payback does what it says on the tin and as a result the team feel a bit of ownership of the project. It’s a prominent building in a prominent position in Queensferry which means their efforts are highly visible - and it’s a job that they can rightly be proud of”.
“The members of the team benefit in that they learn new skills which will stand them in good stead in future. The committee were struggling for a while to get people to use the building. We have revamped it and given it a new image and they now have more user groups in the community.”
