CAMPAIGNERS hoping to stop a vibrant community centre from being sold off have delivered a 1,200-signature petition to education officials.
The Church of England applied to change Startforth Community Centre’s trust, which would allow it to be sold, in December. The move has angered the parochial church council and residents alike who are dismayed that the last community building in the village could be lost to “ecclesiastical greed”.
The Church of England school, which is part owned by Durham County Council, was closed in 2016 and the building has become a busy community centre, run and maintained by villagers.
The trust for Startforth Morritt Primary School was set up 145 years ago with money from the Morritt family. A second trust in 1892 conveyed the building to the minister and churchwardens.
Startforth’s vicar, Revd Canon David Tomlinson and church warden Andrea Clarke delivered the petition to the department of education in Darlington on Monday – the last day of the month-long consultation.
Mr Tomlinson said: “Knowing that so many Teesdale residents are standing behind our determination to keep the community centre is really encouraging.
“Schools help keep the heart in a place, and while the school no longer functions as it once did, clearly the heart is still beating. I am determined to see that life continue through the active provision of the community centre.”
The petition points out key services such as a daily nursery, lunch club, community cafe, ballet school, forest school and much more would be lost if the centre was closed. Startforth Parish Council has also objected to the proposal and have issued an invitation to the Bishop of Leeds, the Right Revd Nick Baines, to visit the community centre.
Objections to the proposals have also been submitted by Sir Andrew Morritt, Barnard Castle Town Council and Durham County Council councillor Richard Bell.
An online petition started by churchwarden Andrea Clarke’s niece, Rebecca Mckitton, attracted more than 539 signatures in two days. Resident Richard Ashdown wrote online: “The centre is part of the very fabric of Startforth and would be a great loss to the village and community.”
Resident Clive Guyll added: “I strongly believe that the Startforth Community Centre should stay as part of Startforth and not be sold on for profit by the church under the guise of redistribution of monies.”
A spokesperson for the Anglican Diocese of Leeds said: “The Anglican Diocese of Leeds is committed to serving the needs of all its parishes.
“Issues surrounding the future of Startforth Morritt Primary School are complex and the diocese is working with the Department for Education to ensure the original charitable purpose of the trust is upheld.
“The terms of the trust are very narrow and the community activities, nursery and forest school do not fall within the scope of the trust. We realise this is frustrating for all involved. However, there is a duty to comply with charity law and we are committed to working closely with the current trustees to ensure the best outcome in line with those obligations is achieved.”
