Shop option checked out

Bingham Town Council is to investigate buying the empty Co-op Pioneer shop in Eaton Place to turn it into a community centre.

As part of the scheme, it could also sell The Old Courthouse on Church Street and move its staff into the new centre.

The plan was revealed by the community centre working party at a council meeting on Tuesday.

Mr Francis Purdue-Horan, the town’s mayor, said: “It is a major building right in the town centre. So far, it is not dilapidated but it is attracting anti-social behaviour and theft.

“But we should also be thinking of the best value for tax payers. It is of such a size that we could move the town council into that building as well.”

Mr Purdue-Horan stressed nothing had been decided but selling The Old Courthouse could be considered.

The Co-op Pioneer building was one of three sites being considered for a new community centre.

Initially, it was planned to have a health centre and community centre on the same site. But because of the long-term delay in finding money for a health centre, the town council has decided to go it alone.

It has £1.2m, given by Miller Homes Ltd as part of its planning consent, in its community chest, and could use the money raised from the sale of The Old Courthouse.

The 4,200 square feet Co-op Pioneer building has been empty for nearly eight years, although the Co-op still pays the lease.

The property is owned by Rimcroft Ltd who operate through the Nottingham-based agents Lambert Smith and Hampton.

Another member of the working party, Mrs Maureen Stockwood, welcomed the decision to investigate the Co-op as an option, but said it had been tried before.

She said: “We do not own it, it is in private hands. We have tried over the last few years and it is still in private ownership.

“They are loath to get back to us and when they do, we only get the scraps of information back.

“We have really really tried. I do not think that people appreciate how many times we have tried.”

Mrs Stockwood said the former clerk, Mr Jeff Grant, had tried several times, without success, to contact the shop’s owners and agents.

Mr Purdue-Horan said: “Hopefully, a continuation of a more positive approach may bring up something.

“In previous contact, it was all to do with a community centre with a health centre. That, now, has gone out of the window.

“It would be a genuine approach from Bingham Town Council for the use of Bingham Town Council in whatever manner is appropriate.”

Mr Anthony Hall said: “I am sure the Pioneer people would like the opportunity of it being put into alternative use so that they don’t have to carry on paying and to keep their competition away.”

A new community centre has been at the top of Bingham Town Council’s priority list since 2003.