A popular community centre looks likely to close after the British Red Cross stopped taking bookings and confirmed it was looking for a smaller venue.
The organisation has 45 years left to run on its lease of the Red Cross Centre in Croxley Green but it has been in talks with Three Rivers District Council (TRDC) about ending the lease.
The centre, in Barton Way, is run by volunteers and provides a space for a number of clubs. A number of users were told in December they could no longer use the building after March 31, however, the Welcome Club and Sunnyside Club, which works with elderly and disabled people, has been allowed to stay.
A meeting was held on March 13, led by Red Cross representative Michael Lascelles. Volunteers and borough and parish councillors attended and the overwhelming response was that the building was a “much-valued community asset”.
Dickinsons ward councillor Rupert Barnes said: “There are no guarantees and the community must work together on this. I spoke to Mr Lascelles after the meeting. He assured me he wants services to continue but the situation in under review.
“The volunteers have been marvellous and they deserve to see how their work helps the village.”
A spokeswoman for the British Red Cross said: “We regularly review our properties to ensure we make best possible use of our resources.
“Managing the hire of the hall requires a considerable amount of resource and as a charity we have a duty to focus our funds on our work supporting people in crisis.
“The building in Croxley Green also acts as a base for the Red Cross mobility aids service and fundraising volunteers. The review concluded the property is now too large for our needs so we are now looking for a smaller space.
“We are having conversations with the district council but electoral rules mean we can’t progress this until after the upcoming local council elections. We appreciate this is frustrating but will try our best to keep everyone affected, including our own volunteers, informed.”
A council spokeswoman added: “The council is in discussions with the British Red Cross as to the future use of the building and would like it to remain in community use if possible.”
Watford and Three Rivers Trust have previously held talks with TRDC about taking over the running of the building, before they fell through. Chief executive Bob Jones has said the trust remains interested in the site.
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