Residents are concerned after an attempted break-in at a closed community centre.

North Glasgow locals are worried about the future of Ruchill Community Centre after three youths attempted to gain access to it last Sunday night.

The hub was shut during the pandemic and has not been put back in use for over three-and-a-half years.

Campaigners have been calling for the reopening of the vital asset consistently since it was closed.

Now, they are once again demanding action after Glasgow Life confirmed the intruder alarm went off last weekend.

Karen Love, from Ruchill, said: "It's terrible. It only happened once before that people broke in and vandalised a wee bit of the building.

"Vandalism happens quite a lot in the area, there have been incidents near Stockingfield Bridge. They are also taking their bikes all over the Ruchill golf course.

"It's ridiculous that [Glasgow Life] is not doing anything."

(Image: Sourced)
(Image: Sourced) (Image: Sourced)

 

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Even though the site has nothing valuable inside, except for gym and kitchen equipment left behind, residents are worried more damage will be done to the already abandoned building.

Karen added: "The community council discusses it regularly. Nobody ever gets back to us about updates.

"They told us last year that it's saved and they are going to open it but since then, we have not heard anything."

Last July, Glasgow Life revealed that £650,000 is needed to carry out repairs, including asbestos removal, which would allow the reopening. However, the council-owned organisation does not have the funding for the work.

Disappointed activists gather every Saturday to voice their anger over the lack of access to a previously well-used facility, which is now "slowly rotting away".

Previously, a former user said: “It had a pivotal role, it provided a space for people to go to and gave them something to do.

“Without it, the community had now become disjointed.

“They seem to be lost and bored."

Efforts have been made by Ruchill residents to explore an asset transfer, which could move the reopening process along.

A spokesperson for Glasgow Life said: “Glasgow City Council’s Security Services attended Ruchill Community Centre at 6.15pm on Sunday, November 24 after the intruder alarm was activated.

"The issue required the services of an engineer who attended and resolved the matter by 10pm.

"There was no unauthorised access and the building was secured.”