A STEADY stream of Ferndown residents have gathered around the doors of the Barrington Centre after it closed its doors with immediate effect.

The centre, which houses a theatre, café and function rooms as well as the town council offices, closed its doors at 12.30pm yesterday.

The Ferndown Community Association Charity, which has operated the centre for 30 years, said a reduction in funding had left it insolvent.

Manager Andy Bryant released a statement saying: “A continual reduction in grant funding and donations, together with increasing overheads, has resulted in the charity’s insolvency.

“In order to minimise the personal financial liabilities of the volunteers, who currently stand as trustees, the centre is now closed to the public.”

The charity says it will be working with “our superior landlord” East Dorset District Council to see the centre reopened “as soon as possible”.

Numerous community groups use the centre’s facilities.

Ferndown Drama Group was due to perform there today, but they have had to cancel their show.

Residents reacted with shock and disappointment to the closure.

Pat Sturman, 67, said she was aware of the difficulty of ‘balancing the books’ from being on the committee of the local Royal British Legion Club.

“This has torn the heart out of Ferndown,” she said.

“There are other theatres in the town but not on the scale of this.”

Pauline Grant, 81, said: “It is a great shame, and I think it will be greatly missed.” She said the Ferndown Flower Arranging Society had stopped using the centre’s facilities as they were “quite expensive”.

Chris Sherred, 69, has lived in the town and nearby St Leonards all his life. He said: “They used to have lots of bands and groups, comedy acts, and things for younger people. It was very, very good.

“Now I think an awful lot of retired people have moved here and they don’t go out.”

Jon Stokes

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Conversely, Roger Whall, 73, said many elderly people relied on the centre restaurant to have their dinner.

East Dorset District Council said the charity had first brought up its financial difficulties on December 15.

Council leader Spencer Flower said: “Since then we have become aware that the charity has been using its reserves for the last few years to balance its finances.

“Previous grants to the association from the council have totalled £36,000 over the past three years.

“Senior members have been speaking with the charity to better understand what action they are planning to take to ensure that this much valued community facility remains accessible to the town council, police and public.

“The council will continue to engage with the trustees as they decide the best way forward.”