By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
City Life Church is giving up its long-running management of Townhill Park Community Centre due to financial challenges, with the council now seeking a new operator.
Photo: SCC
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The church has been the leaseholder of the centre since 2016.
After giving six months’ notice, the charitable organisation’s lease was due to end this year, far earlier than the original 25-year term.
However, working with support from the local authority, City Life agreed to continue its management of the centre until the end of August.
Church leader Dan Pooley said: “It has been a privilege to serve the local community and ensure Townhill Park Community Centre has remained a consistent local resource through the last ten years of regeneration.
“However, due to the increase of financial burden on the charity with rising costs and falling income, City Life Church are unable to continue to carry the responsibility of managing the building. “
The city council is now looking to find a new leaseholder for the site in Meggeson Avenue.
Community focused organisations had until Friday, May 22, to express an interest.
Toqeer Kataria, Labour councillor responsible for leisure, communities and heritage, said: “We want to thank the City Life Church for providing an excellent service to Townhill Park residents over the past decade using the Townhill Park Community Centre.
“Financial challenges have meant that City Life Church has requested to exit the lease early.
“Southampton City Council have agreed to this and are providing support so that operations can continue until the end of August.
“This building, which opened in 2011 with help from central government, has proven to be a valuable hub for the community.”
The council said the centre is a modern fully-equipped facility used for meetings, workshops, group activities, children’s parties and fitness classes.
Cllr Kataria said the local authority would make sure the new leaseholder worked well with existing operations given a pre-school occupies the community centre on weekdays.
He added: “We aim to be in a position to announce a new leaseholder that the City Life Church can hand over to in August.”
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