Empty city community centres face being 'quickly disposed of'

COUNCIL BUILDINGS LEFT EMPTY AFTER PROCESS WILL BE SOLD TO 'MINIMISE COSTS'

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

The former Mapperley Community centre in August 2024

NOTTINGHAM City Council says community centre buildings that do not survive new arrangements will be sold off in “quick” fashion.

The Labour-run authority has told community centres who do not agree to new lease terms by December that they will be evicted early next year.

Having empty community centre buildings would mean extra costs for the council given they would need to hire extra security to prevent break-ins or other antisocial behaviour.

The authority has therefore confirmed in a new report that it will be trying to “minimise” costs if any buildings do end up empty.

Mapperley Community Centre's former manager, who gave his keys back to the city council in February 2024, raised fears soon after about the state of the site since it had become vacant. Regular break-ins and rampant weeds were among the issues raised and the former manager said at the time that his building had been “left to rot”.