BRAND new £500,000 changing rooms at a Cradley park – which are still in the process of being built – could go unused as Dudley Council looks to offload the asset.

The Homer Hill Park facilities, which are expected to be open and ready to use by September, are subject to a community asset transfer as the local authority cannot afford the upkeep of the building.

This means the council are looking to offload the changing rooms to a local group which will pay for the running of the facilities – which also include a community room – on their behalf.

Councillor Richard Body, chairman of the Friends of Homer Hill Park, said the council expects his group to take on the changing rooms – but this is something they also cannot afford.

He said: “We would like to take it on but we can’t due to our really small numbers. We currently only have six members, and most of the group are quite elderly.

“With the group the size it is now we just can’t afford to do it, so it’s crucial for us to increase our numbers as we don’t want the changing rooms going to waste.

“If we don’t take them on and because the local authority can’t afford to maintain and operate them, they would go unused which would be a great shame.”

Cllr Body and his fellow friends’ group members are now appealing for new faces to join the group, as well as local sports clubs who would want to take on the running of the changing rooms.

He added: “As a group we have raised £400,000 for the park over the past 11 years, but we need to attract new blood and more people to get involved.

“We think it would be a perfect opportunity for local groups or football clubs. Who wouldn’t want their own brand new changing rooms and facilities, right next to a pitch with a floodlit training area and car parking?

“But as well as inviting local groups to be part of the friends group, we would also love for local people who care about the park to join, as we don’t want to lose this great new building.”

The work to build the changing rooms was made possible following £250,000 of funding from the sale of land previously home to Cradley High School alongside council loans.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental services, confirmed the council is currently in talks with the Friends of Homer Hill Park and local football team Halas Hawks regarding the management of the new facilities.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a member of the friends group, or local clubs who would be willing to take on the responsibility for the upkeep of the changing rooms, should contact Cllr Body on 07951 482123.