CITY COUNCIL chiefs have quashed rumours that Ronkswood Community Centre is under threat after a Labour councillor alleged the popular venue could be sold for housing.
Concerned for the future of the centre on Canterbury Road, Coun Pat Agar, County Councillor for Ronkswood, said: “Speculation is rife that the City Council and the Community Trust are in secret talks with Fortis Housing Association to sell the Ronkswood Community Centre for housing”.
“We need to know the facts, they need to come clean, Ronkswood needs their community centre as a place for youth provision and social gatherings.
“Worcester City Council, the people who run the centre the Community Trust and Fortis Housing Association need to explain to residents what is happening and to reassure local people.
“Ronkswood is an isolated community which needs local community facilities; if we lose the Community Centre we will lose the biggest and most important asset in the area.
“I need to know and the community need to know if we have to fight, fight and fight again to protect the service,” she added.
Despite the rumours, Ronkswood Community Centre, which is owned by Worcester City Council and operated by Worcester Community Trust, currently has no plans to close.
A Worcester City Council spokesman said: “Worcester City Council has no plans to reduce the number of community centres in the city”.
Adding to this, Worcester Community Trust, which manages six community centres in the city on behalf of the council, said: “We haven’t heard that the city council is thinking of closing any of the centres.
“And although there are tough times ahead for us in the Trust, as there are for most charities and voluntary organisations in the city, we plan to keep the centres running,” they added.
