LABOUR councillors and campaigners are urging members of the public to back their crusade to save two of Basingstoke’s most beloved community centres.

Under Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s (BDBC) new Top of The Town redevelopment plans, the Irish Community Centre (ICC) and Basingstoke Carnival Hall Community Centre (BCHCC) are both set to face uncertain futures with the organisations being forced to share a building.

The plans would see the current ICC and BCHCC buildings, both in Council Road, Fairfields, demolished to make way for a new centre for both groups to move into.

But councillors and campaigners feel that it would downsize the work they currently do within their prospective communities.

Labour leader Cllr Paul Harvey said: “The Labour group wholly supports this campaign to save the centres.

“These are two very important community spaces, that are well used and it is utterly ludicrous they are being put under threat considering the amazing job they do.

“They both run their centres brilliantly, have invested in the buildings over the years and by cramming both sets of users of the facilities into one building just wouldn’t work.

“The Irish Centre and Carnival Hall are so important, that forcing them together would be destroying opportunities for all that uses them.”

Campaigners for the ICC are concerned that within BDBC’s plans its bar would no longer operate.

When originally opened in 1989, the ICC was specially used as a space for members of the Irish community to come and share a drink – with all profits made from the bar going towards the Irish Society charity.

“When I came to Basingstoke in 1983, the Irish community didn’t have a venue,” Labour’s Cllr Keating, who originally comes from Cork, said.

“The Irish Centre was created as a constant and as a space where members of the Irish community could hold their events and welcome different cultures to explore theirs.

“Moving venue is not a huge issue and we’re not seeking to create issues – we just want to make sure our centre and its bar survives.

“Carnival Hall is fully occupied, as is the Irish Centre, and if forced to merge we will both not be able to maintain the excellent work we do for our communities. The plans will have an effect on the damping down of two vigilant and vibrant communities.”

Campaigners from both ICC and BCHCC are now encouraging people to contact their local councillor, by phone or by email, to tell them they wish to object to BDBC’s proposals.

Save the Irish Centre campaign co-ordinator Edwin Stone said: “The only weapon we have is public opinion so we urge everyone to contact their local councillor to tell them why it should be saved and their memories of it. This is the only way we can change BDBC’s decision.”

Kanak Rajgor, chairman of BCHCC, also urged people to support their campaign.

He said: “Every month we welcome between 5,000 and 6,000 people into our hall to use our facilities from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter what your background is, we offer our space out.

“We are all in this together and it’s so important for people to tell their local councillor about their wish to save our centres.”

Last month BDBC’s cabinet member for communities and community safety, Cllr Simon Bound said: “We are carrying out a review of these two ageing facilities in the town centre that are in need of repair.

“The review is at a very early stage and involves discussing possibilities with the management committees and looking at different options for the future.”

On September 14, a meeting will be held to determine the centres’ futures.

People are urged to contact their local councillor before September 5, when a preliminary meeting between a representative from BDBC and the centres will be held.

Sign the petition here.