Search for tenant to run historic community centre

A new tenant is being sought for a wartime community centre which has been forced to close due to financial constraints.

St Marks and Hesters Way Community Centre (SMHWCC), in Cheltenham, shut on 30 September due to increased running costs and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A new lease being negotiated with Cheltenham Borough Council was considered unsustainable in the long-term by trustees.

Three potential tenants have expressed an interest in taking over the running of the centre and will present their bids to the council later this month.

Former manager Alison Harris said: "It would be an ideal outcome if a new tenant could use the centre for local groups, but they would need the money to repair and maintain the high running costs of an old building."

A meeting held on 10 September to dissolve the St Marks and Hesters Way Community Association, which runs the centre, was attended by about 60 residents.

David Hughes, an insolvency accountant working for the centre, said it had been "difficult" and "people were expressing their unhappiness".

Slimming World consultant Caroline Stevens has held sessions at the centre for nine years.

"It was the perfect location and it's so sad that it closed so quickly," she said.

"It took me weeks to find somewhere to go that could accommodate us and it is not in the area that is needed, some of my members don't drive, or have mobility issues, so can't access the new venue and are missing out."

SMHWCC was set up in 1945, just after World War Two, by civil defence volunteers to be managed as a social amenity for the local community.

It was originally housed in wooden huts constructed by the US military as part of the war effort until funds were raised to build the current Rima Hall in the 1950s.

Many local organisations continued to use the hall through the decades, including a senior citizen luncheon club, a motorcycle training group, a children's playgroup, and tea dancing group, and it also held events such as summer fairs.

Mr Hughes said: "The 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns hit the charity hard, but the council was under an obligation from a national change in policy to recover some value on their assets."

Trustee Brian Cassin said: "The council was very helpful and we thought we saw a way forward.

"But it became clear we would run into financial difficulties if we tried to continue and renew the lease."

Cheltenham Borough Council has owned the land since 1919, and when a rent-free lease expired in 2022 a two-year grace period was agreed while new terms were negotiated.

Councillor for St Marks, Sandra Holliday, said voluntary sector grant funding had been considered and rejected.

"Whilst it might have been possible to obtain third sector grants, the trustees would have had to apply for this annually and clearly there would be no guarantee of being successful.

"There were concerns the charity would have to evidence social health benefits, which are potentially incompatible with the operation of the bar," she said.

A spokesperson for the council said: "The trustees have not been asked to pay commercial rates or rents, and there has been no obligation to pay any rent at all whilst they have had use of the building.

"As a charity the business rates have always been subject to 80 per cent relief in line with government policy."

Councillor Alisha Lewis, cabinet member for finance and assets said: "The building was showing signs of disrepair and so we recently carried out a full condition survey which showed that significant investment is now needed to keep it safe and operational.

"We are keen to keep the centre in community use and are optimistic about being able to find some fantastic new occupiers for the building."

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.