Plans to convert a forgotten community centre into a soft play area and cafe have been kicked into the long grass, a local charity has claimed.
Southwick Community Centre was awarded to Active Families last year, but so far the charity has been unable to get its plans off the ground.
This is despite proposals being submitted last year after the building was acquired in April.
Sunderland City Council said the lease was put on hold while its community asset policy remained under review.
Charity director Kelly Brougham is frustrated by the delay, telling the BBC: “We’ve been left waiting, despite securing £500,000 to help transform this building into a space the community can be proud of.”
Active Families runs a number of community wellness and fitness groups across the North East and has been based in Washington since 2017.
The charity is now petitioning residents to gauge how much public backing it has for the plans with the aim of pressuring the council into action.
The group accused the council of putting the decision on hold due to the feeling of some councillors, who it claimed wanted to revoke the decision and re-tender the building with a clause that only Southwick-based organisations could apply.
Plans to revamp the community centre are yet to be approved
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Sunderland City Council insists the ‘pause’ was because of its broader policy review, to ensure its policies relating to community assets were clear.
A council spokesman said: “Active Families was identified as the highest-scoring bidder at evaluation stage but no lease has been entered into, and no legal binding agreement has been completed.”
Amy Swan, a local, called for the council to allow the charity to “transform” the building in the near future.
She told the BBC: “This could be the heart of a community, we’ve been out on the streets and everyone is for this, it’s a rebirth of Southwick.”
The charity is furious with the council’s apparent pause
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The council spokesman added: “We acknowledge Active Families has invested time and resources into the tender process, and we appreciate the work undertaken by all organisations that expressed an interest in the building.
“However, until a formal agreement is completed, the council must retain the ability to review its position in line with emerging policy considerations.
“We will update Active Families once the policy review has concluded.”
