Tories Axe Maybury Neighbourhood Advice Centre

Despite a strong campaign by Lib Dem Councillors and local residents, Conservative-run Woking Borough Council have cut the funding to the Maybury Neighbourhood Advice Centre, threatening the organisation with closure.

The Neighbourhood Advice Centre based at the Maybury Centre in Board School Road, has provided advice to local residents on benefits, employment and housing for 20 years.

As Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Lib Dem Borough Councillor Liam Lyons 'called in' the ruling Conservatives' decision to refuse to fund the Advice Centre for further review to try and make the Conservatives change their minds. 641 people also signed a petition asking for the grant to be reinstated. However, Conservative Councillors voted to reject these pleas from both residents and Lib Dem Councillors.

The Lib Dem Borough Councillor for Maybury and Sheerwater, Mohammed Bashir said, "I am appalled at the Conservative Council for axing the grant to the Neighbourhood Advice Centre. Their work was vital to help struggling residents in the local area."

Mohammed Bashir added, "The Tories kept on changing the reason for refusal to help the Centre. They first referred to a lack of charitable status for withholding the grant, but the Centre is a registered charity. Many local residents feel our local Councils don't care about Maybury and Sheerwater at all."