A SENIOR councillor has apologised for the way community groups were told they were kicked out of a building.

A youth club and cinema group were among users of the Phillip Road centre, Wivenhoe, told they would need to leave by July 28.

Letters were sent to each group explaining the centre, owned by Essex County Council, needed to be emptied while the authority got government permission to sell off the children’s support services building - a process which could take six months.

County councillor Derrick Louis, responsible for transformation and corporate services, said: “We have apologised to the users of the Phillip Road centre for the way the announcement concerning the necessary closure of the premises has been handled."

  • Read the full story and reaction in Monday's Gazette.