GIBSHILL residents are being urged to show support for their community centre.

The state-of-the-art facility opened up three years ago with a promise that it would be run by the community, for the community.

Since then the team has built up a busy hub which is used by different groups every day of the week.

But board member Erin Donnelly, along with centre manager Kevin Cummings is now urging local people to attend a specially arranged meeting as it reaches a crossroads.

Treasurer Erin Donnelly said: "The community support and passion that we so need has dwindled. People fought for 15 years to get the centre built.

"It has been a phenomenal success.

"The community wanted it set up so that they had a say in how it is run and it's the only community centre of its kind in Inverclyde.

"But we held our recent AGM and only three people showed up.

"This does not allow us to meet our quorum so we need to arrange an extraordinary general meeting.

"We need people to come along or else we will need to change the constitution.

"That would mean that the board could make the decision on how the community centre is run."

The former centre was closed down to make way for housing and the local community campaigned for a new facility for 15 years.

Erin added: "They fought for it and they wanted it to be run a certain way.

"During discussions the community wanted to be fully involved in the decision making and the way it is run.

"The constitution is set up that way so that the board can't make decision without the community.

"But we will have to change it if we can't get more people along to our AGM."

The centre is widely used by all age groups and supported by local organisations.

It works closely with the nursery and the cafe is widely used by the local community.

Residents also show their support by booking private functions in the centre.

Centre manager Kevin Cummings said: "It is more than a job for me. It is where I live, I campaigned for the community centre.

"We are doing really well but I think people now think it runs itself.

"We need people to continue to help run it."

Anyone who wishes to help the board should contact the centre on 741588.