by Michelle Horst
Volunteers from Hornsea First Aid Centre have launched a campaign to secure the former resource centre building in Parva Road.
The first aid centre is currently in a portable building in Tesco car park, and the volunteers, who assist at least 800 people a year, say the charity has now outgrown the space.
The Gazette first reported on the plight of the volunteers in February this year. Despite offering a one-of-a-kind service in England, the trained medical teams do not have access to suitable heating or electricity, and the facilities do not include an on-site toilet.
Many of the volunteers are retired, and they say the lack of heating and space makes it extremely difficult for them to meet their own needs. Patients are forced to queue outside in all weathers because of the lack of a waiting area, and the addition of a lockbox at the supermarket has further affected the area around the cabin.
The charity is proposing to convert the former East Riding Council resource centre at the rear of Hornsea police station into a community centre. Similar centres in Driffield, Beverley and Withernsea provide a single location to access the town’s pantry, after-school clubs, youth clubs, a range of social groups, health and education support. The team has been working with other charities in the area to secure the building.
Rosie Bullard, chairman of the Hornsea First Aid Centre, is co-ordinating the campaign. She said: “We have been working with Beverley’s Cherry Tree Centre, and the Shores Centre in Withernsea.”
The Hornsea First Aid Centre has created an online petition to build further support. The petition is open for anyone to sign online: change.org/p/save-hornsea-first-aid-centre-for-the-community. The idea has backing from local councillors as well as Charlie Dewhirst MP, who has added his name to the petition.
Former town councillor and Hornsea First Aid Centre trustee June Greensmith is keen to see a community centre in the town. She said: “We’ve been to every community centre nearby. People travel to Withernsea and Beverley to get support from the community centres there. It’s time it happened here.”
The outpouring of support has overwhelmed Rosie after launching their campaign at the Hornsea Carnival: “Without even trying, we have had huge support.”
The campaigners are also in negotiations with East Riding Council. A spokesman at the council advised that the authority would seek expressions of interest regarding the rental or sale of the property in the autumn.
The former resource centre, including the green space at the side of the Broadway car park, is designated as suitable for residential development on the East Riding Local Plan.
Anyone wishing to help can drop in to the Hornsea First Aid Centre cabin in Hornsea Tesco car park, where a copy of the petition is also available.
