A GROUP has pledged to fight on in its bid to turn the former Bournemouth Centre For Community Arts building into a community centre.

BCCA Friends has held two public meetings over Bournemouth Borough Council’s recent bid for planning permission to knock down part of the centre in Haviland Road, Boscombe, as part of its plans for an integrated services hub.

The grade II listed schoolrooms, however, will remain.

The hub, to be created using a £2.3m government grant, is to be a base for a multi-agency team supporting children, young people and families, approved by cabinet in September last year.

It would include open-plan offices, meeting and interview rooms, medical examination rooms, a cafeteria, secure children’s play area plus 17 parking spaces.

The deputy leader of Bournemouth council, Cllr John Beasley, said that the hub will bring £2.3m of investment into Boscombe and “secure a long term future for the site”.

The council has offered the Friends the rent-free use of the two former Victorian classrooms and the offer is still open to them, he said.

He added: “We had hoped that this offer would have given the Friends the opportunity to deliver a community arts centre for Boscombe, albeit on a smaller scale than had originally been planned.”

Katherine Edgar, from BCCA Friends, described the council’s offer as “wholly inadequate”.

The Friends want to see the school building saved and to be allowed more space for their planned community centre she said.

She said: “In the council’s 2007 consultation the majority of residents said they want the building to stay as it is for community use.

“The caretaker’s cottage and Horsa buildings would need to be redeveloped. If they were then the council would have enough office space for over 100.”

“We’ve given them every opportunity to work with us. It’s not too late.”

Local councillor Phil Stanley-Watts said Boscombe “desperately” needs a community centre.

“It’s no good turning money down for Boscombe but it’s about getting the right things there,” he said.