A DERELICT community centre on Feltham High Street could soon be in the hands of private developers, after the council decided to sell the site.
The former Feltham People's Centre has fallen into disrepair after plans to develop the site into a new Skills Centre were abandoned because of funding issues in 2009.
On Monday, Councillor Theo Dennison, the lead member for performance and customer care, took the decision under delegated powers to sell the site on the open market at a public auction.
He explained that, although the sale would mean the site would pass into private ownership, there was a requirement for the new owner to provide a community facility in Feltham.
He said: "A developer who buys the site will be required to make some community provision, either on the site or make an offer to the council to make provision elsewhere in Feltham.
"The council will be looking for a significant and substantial community benefit."
It was also decided that a dialogue would be opened with the community and voluntary sector to determine exactly what provision was needed in Feltham.
Councillor Dennison said: "The big problem going into the decision was that there was no definite idea of what people want in Feltham. It was clear that people wanted more, but no one was in a position to say exactly what was needed.
"Once we've determined what is required, we will put money behind that. Some or all of the proceeds of the sale will be used for that."
Despite the pledge to provide new community facilities, however, the sale has been criticised by David Howell, a trustee of the former Feltham Community Association, which held the lease on the building until 2008.
He said: "The council have lost the plot. Putting the site up for auction is wrong in every way.
"It was bought with community gain money from the development of a Tescos in 1991 and it doesn't make sense to require a private sector developer to provide a community gain if you've already lost that £750,000.
"We put £1.5 million into that site and that money, as well as all the voluntary action, has been lost.
"They've had years and years of opportunity for consultation but they haven't taken it. So many people did so much in support of their local community and it really is a travesty that it has come to this point."
External consultants, appointed to examine options for the site, have suggested it is suitable for mixed use, residential or commercial development.
The council have yet to set a reserve price on the site, but will do so closer to the auction, which will be held on October 31.
