CHRISTCHURCH councillors have stressed they have not made a final decision on closing a community centre as they agree to go out to consultation on its future.

Members of the community services committee unanimously agreed to consult with local residents and users on the future of the Mudeford Wood Community Centre in Pipers Drive.

The centre, which was built over 20 years ago, has suffered from extensive vandalism in the past with some residents also complaining about antisocial behaviour.

Although the building is in a satisfactory condition, officers say maintenance will need to take place over the next 10 years as well as the replacement of fencing and surfacing to the synthetic pitches.

The building costs the council around £76,000 a year, with the facilities only used around 34 per cent of the year and the sports pitches cost around 48 per cent. Possible outcomes of the consultation could include the closure of the centre and surrounding land, leading to redevelopment or improving the centre to make it more attractive to new users.

Cllr Alan Griffiths, leader of the council said: “We want to hear peoples’ views. This is not a decided consultation. We want to know who is using the centre. Why aren’t people using it and if it was not there, how would it affect people?

“The most important thing of all is to get people’s views. We do not want there to be any miscommunication about this. What we are doing there is genuinely consulting with residents.

“We want to make sure we are supporting their priorities. There is no decision already made.”

Questionnaires will be issued to users, residents and others from today as part of a six-week consultation.

A report will be prepared for community services committee on January 20, 2010.

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