THE ‘heartbroken’ trustees of Community House have announced the closure of the building at the end of the year.
Redditch Borough Council made the decision to sell the building on Easemore Road last year to make way for development.
The Council had offered to sell the property and its surroundings to the Trust for £700,000, however the trust was not able to raise the money in time.
Margaret Mountford, Chair of Redditch Common Neighbourhood Trust (RCNT), said: “Despite great efforts by R.C.N.T. and the residents of Redditch to save Community House for the people of Redditch we have reluctantly had to accept defeat and accept that Community House will close on the 31st December 2023.
“We are sorry that the Council has taken the decision to close Community House and end the valued service its tenants have given to the people of Redditch over many years. “We trust that promises given to our lease holders by the Council to assist with relocation will be honoured.”
Charities based at Community House include Bromsgrove and Redditch Network (BARN), Home-Start, Talking Newspapers and MIND.
Karen Jones, trustee of RCNT and Manager of Home-Start, one of the charities based in 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.”
A Redditch Borough Council spokesperson said:“A six-month notice period was given to the Trust in June of this year.
“The original lease did require a 12-month notice period but, as the Trust are aware, this lapsed some time ago.”
