PARKLANDS centre in Whaddon has issued a rallying cry to residents to help it become the beating heart of the community.

Volunteers at the centre, in Wyman's Road, say the neighbourhood is lacking a communal hub where people can meet up, socialise and take part in joint activities.

With the Cat and Fiddle pub in Whaddon Road lying derelict and the Greyhound in Hewlett Road due to close next month, residents have raised fears there will be nowhere left for them to meet up.

But leaders at the centre, which boasts a bar, a skittle alley and is used by 250 people, say it can fill the void and inject some life back into the community.

Alec Woodward, a trustee at Parklands, said: "We want to avoid a fortress mentality in Whaddon where people are afraid to leave their homes.

"This is a real danger of this when the Greyhound closes because there will be one less place for people to socialise.

"We are here for the community and we want people to use us. We need to get the elderly out of their homes and back into the community. Parents with young children can use us too."

Parklands puts on a range of activities for people of all ages, including bingo evenings, pool competitions and disco nights.

It also caters for up to 120 people with learning difficulties each week.

But volunteers say the organisation will struggle to survive if people don't support it, and have called on more people to lend a hand with the day-to-day administration of the centre.

Mr Woodward added: "We are not given a single penny in cash to survive which makes it very tough. We have high running costs and it is hard work to keep the place going.

"We need new trustees who are prepared to work hard and preferably, who have a sound knowledge of how to finance a voluntary group such as ours.

"These are exciting times for the centre. We want to extend our premises and expand our services to more people.

"We want to put Parklands at the heart of Whaddon but we need help if we are to be able to do it."

Staff at Parklands are putting on a series of special activities this week to coincide with the National Hunt Festival. Volunteers will be holding an Irish evening tonight , a horse racing night tomorrow and a disco on Friday, with funds raised being pumped back into the centre.

Councillor Dave Prince, (Oakley, PAB), said Parklands needed more support from the community if it was to survive. "Hopefully, with the Greyhound and the Cat and Fiddle closing, more people will use the centre," he said.

"There is a lot of potential there if the right people get behind it, and could really do a lot for the people of Whaddon." To find our more about Parklands, or to volunteer at the centre call 01242 245 557.

OPINION, P8