Beresfield Men’s Shed members are so uneasy about their future that they have challenged Newcastle City Council to tell them if their site is secure.
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This unease comes a full year after they first learned of council’s master plan being developed for Beresfield Recreation Precinct.
The master plan is for the area off Anderson Drive that includes Beresfield Bowling Club and the disused tennis facilities the men’s shed has used as a clubhouse.
“The situation is very bad and our 39 members are uneasy all round,” Beresfield Men’s Shed president John Bell said on Thursday.
“We now know Newcastle City Council is keeping our swimming pool open and have leased the golf course but council is saying nothing to us about their plans for us,” Mr Bell said.
“Council is not talking to us at all.
“They are paying our electricity, so I suppose there is little we can do really.
“But nobody seems to know what is happening here and we don’t know where we are going.”
Mr Bell said everything seemed to be on hold.
“We would like our own place where we can bolt our machinery to the floor,” he said.
“But until someone talks to us and tells us what is going on, this unease just continues.”
Asked how he saw the situation, Newcastle Councillor Michael Osborne said: “This is symptomatic of how council operates.
“Our council is not communicating with the community and bringing them into the picture.
“Leaving people at Beresfield Men’s Shed in anxiety about what is going to happen to them is an example of this.”
Councillor Jason Dunn said he would ask council for a formal response about its master plan.
“I am frustrated that there have been no real updates on this master plan and I will do everything I can to support Beresfield Men’s Shed,” Cr Dunn said.
The Mercury’s calls to council’s communications manager on Thursday brought no response.