RESIDENTS are fighting to save their community centre from closure in council cutbacks.

The centre at Annfield Plan, near Stanley, is one of those that Durham County Council wants to stop funding.

Residents formed a committee and drew up a plan to take it over but the council has rejected their bid and intends to shut it down in December.

Group secretary Hugh Embleton said the group had attracted new users and was sure its plan was viable.

“It would mean there is no centre like it round here if it closes.

“We run a foodbank from here and when this closes it will be gone because there is nowhere to put it in this locality.

“We have about 14 groups using it now and those that know about the situation are distraught.

“There will be a few groups that have used this facility for quite a while that will just pack in if this place closes.”

North Durham MP Jevan Jones is writing to the council about the centre’s future and the group

is looking to see if it can persuade the council to rethink the decision.

Gordon Elliott, the council’s head of partnerships and community engagement, said the council and the group had spent 17 months looking at transferring the centre to lovaal management.

“Throughout the process we have been clear that we can only agree to such a transfer if we are satisfied that the necessary arrangements and finances are in place to ensure the plans for the building are sustainable.

“Unfortunately in this case there is insufficient evidence of the required funding being in place, particularly as significant repairs would need to be carried out.

“As a result we have been unable to agree to a transfer and have advised the groups of our intention to close the building.

“We have assured the groups which use the building that they can continue to do so over the next few months and that we will support them as much as we can in finding alternative venues.”