Supporters of Spring Lodge Community Centre have been urged to attend tomorrow's council meeting where the issue of its closure and replacement will be decided.

Braintree Council's executive is proposing to close the Witham centre, sell the site and provide a new sports and community centre on land in Stevens Road.

Witham Community Association has been promised it can stay at Spring Lodge until the new building is ready, but there is uncertainty over the long-term accommodation of the many other groups that use the centre.

Users of Spring Lodge and councillors spoke out against the proposals at a meeting of Witham Town Council's community services committee last night.

Spring Lodge manager Ted Walker said: "If we move to Stevens Road then clearly the children who come to the playgroups and after-school wouldn't be able to attend it's too far to walk them from Chipping Hill or Powers Hall schools."

The executive meeting where the report will be voted on will take place at the Braintree Council headquarters in Bocking End, Braintree, at 7.15pm tomorrow night

Published Tuesday November 18, 2003

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