MP fears for future of much-loved centre

Dudley MP Sonia Kumar fears the future of Gornal’s Sycamore Adventure Centre is not as secure as council leaders claim.

In July, Dudley Council issued a call for expressions of interest from community organisations to take over day-to-day management of the centre on Sycamore Green.

The centre faced the possibility of closure during a review in December 2024 but council leaders found funding to keep it open for at least five years.

The latest call for expressions of interest sparked new concerns, Ms Kumar said: “People were told the centre was safe, and now they’re being asked to accept its uncertain future.

“It’s unacceptable, and I’ll fight to keep Sycamore Adventure in public hands where it belongs.

“At a time when childhood mental health issues are on the rise and families have limited spaces to take their children, we should be investing in spaces like this, not threatening their future.”

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, says the authority is ‘100% committed to ensuring the centre is available to communities and families’. He added: “The council will retain ownership of the centre, and it will be a requirement that partners follow a similar model to the one already in place through a Community Lease arrangement.

“This would give long term security to the centre while allowing the community partner to bring their own ideas to the table and direct the future of the much-loved site.

“Being community led would also provide opportunities to apply for voluntary and third sector funding streams not available to the local authority, helping to assure the centre’s long-term future.” ​

The council believes having a community organisation running the centre will help it develop in future years.

Cllr Wayne Little, Dudley cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Sycamore is a much loved and well-used centre with the community at its heart which is why we want it to be community led.

“We’ve taken it as far as we can, we think that a community partner with passion and vision could make it even better.”