“SHOCKED’ trustees of a community centre have claimed they were unaware of any council plans to sell the building and relocate organisations.

Redditch Borough Council has resolved to sell the existing Community House building in Easemore Road to eventually make way for homes.

Committee members were told by officers that tenants of Community Housing had approached the council about alternative accommodation due to concerns about the building’s state of repair.

Members were also told officers had been working with the tenants to find alternate locations.

However, trustees of Community House have refuted the information and said they did not know about any of the plans.

Redditch Advertiser: Trustees of Redditch Common Neighbourhood Trust.Trustees of Redditch Common Neighbourhood Trust.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Redditch Common Neighbourhood Trust, (RCNT) which manages Community House said: “Thousands of people visit Community House or are supported by the charities based there every week.

“Tens of thousands of Redditch residents benefit from the services based there.

"For over 30 years it has been a vibrant community space and a vital support hub for local people.

“The trustees have significant concerns about the misleading and false information given to the committees that made this decision, such as implying that the VCS asked for alternative accommodation because of the state of the building, that the council is supporting us to move elsewhere, that the cost to the council will be £340,000.”

Karen Jones, trustee of RCNT and manager of Home-Start, one of the charities based at Community House, said: “This decision completely ignores the value of the charities and groups based here.

"It’s a slap in the face for people who really need support and shows how out of touch the council is from the communities it is meant to serve.

"If councillors had made the slightest effort to understand exactly what Community House gives back to local residents they’d never have made this judgement.”

The building is also used by Gemini Dance Studios, which claim they had no knowledge of the plans.

A spokesperson for Redditch Borough Council said: “We can confirm that the Community House Building and associated land at Easemore Road was declared surplus to council requirements at the meeting of the Executive held on July 12 and that it will now be sold at market value.

“Lead Officers are currently preparing an additional briefing note which will detail the timelines of discussions held between all parties involved in this process, including council officers, tenants with temporary leases, the VCS groups and other users of Community House which had taken place in advance of the decision”

Cllr Matt Dormer, leader of the council, said: “I am looking forward to receiving the briefing note which will enable members of the Executive to understand the issues and statements which have been made surrounding Community House.

“We will of course continue to work with users and VCS groups to explore all options which are available going forward.

“We hugely value the important work which is done by the voluntary community sector and will do our upmost to ensure they all continue to thrive in our town.”