THE doors have been closed on a long-running community centre in Malvern.

As revealed exclusively in the Gazette, a decision was taken to shut the Pickersleigh Community Centre in Baxters Walk and return the building to its former use as housing.

The facility, which had been running since 2000, was officially closed on Saturday, December 31 and a users’ meeting was held on Monday to finalise arrangements ahead of its transfer back to Festival Housing.

Val Myatt, chairman of the Pickersleigh Community Centre Association said: “We had a look through the accounts and agreed they would be finalised at the end of the financial year on March 31.

At that point we will decide what we will do with any surplus, but hopefully whatever is there can be ploughed back in locally for community use.”

She added that it was likely a community sale would take place to dispose of the centre’s remaining assets.

“The computers have already gone and the Langland Stadium has expressed an interest in taking the kitchen units, but there are various bits and pieces still remaining that might be of interest to people,” she said.

The centre was used by a variety of organisations including the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, a youth group and Sole Mates walking group.

Mrs Myatt said other local venues including the Langland Stadium and St Mary’s and Malvern Evangelical Churches would be housing these for the time being.

“Then, at some point down the line, we have really got to get a community centre in Pickersleigh that is truly fit for purpose,” she said. “This one served us well, and of course there is a touch of sadness to see it go but we had well and truly outgrown what was there.”