FUMING residents have blasted the council's decision to sell off their cherished community centre as a 'disgrace'.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council has issued members of College Park Residents Association with eight-weeks notice to leave their Letchford Gardens base.

The historic building, which has been their home for 40 years, looks set to be sold off to property developers as the council looks to shed assets and raise cash to pay off debts.

It has left the community angry and they held a protest outside the centre on Saturday as they plead for the decision to be reversed.

Maureen Clarke, association secretary, said: “This centre has been our home for four decades and has been used as a community facility since it opened in 1895.

“We successfully fought for a three-year lease in 2008 but that has come to an end and the council can't wait to kick us out. It is an absolute disgrace that they are treating us like this and with such little respect.

“No-one has come to talk to us and there has been no consultation. We are just being steam-rolled. We know times are tough and sacrifices have to be made but, being tucked away in the north of the borough, we are an easy target.

“There are a lot of people here who are deeply upset.”

The council insists it has no plans to change its mind about the sale and said it is planning to move youth services to the nearby City Mission while Kenmont Primary School will host the parent and toddler group, choir, both yoga and bingo clubs, over 50s Monday club and the councillors' surgery.

Councillor Helen Binmore, children's services leader, said: “This council makes absolutely no apology for putting people before buildings as we strive to protect front-line services in these very difficult economic times.
“We believe that taxpayers would prefer us to sell this centre, which is used only twice a day, rather than reduce funding for vulnerable people, spend less money on our schools or clean our streets less regularly.

“The council has worked hard to ensure that all of its services are rehoused locally.”