maintenance from members of Frome Netball Club
Mendip YMCA may have to pull out of plans to expand Frome Youth and Community Centre if agreements on a new lease with Somerset County Council cannot be agreed.
The YMCA took over the running of the centre in September 2012 on a short-term basis so that it didn’t close, but repairs were urgently needed to bring the centre up to standard. Whilst Mendip YMCA managed to raise funds to keep the centre afloat, the charity couldn’t commit to a long-term lease until sufficient work was carried out by the landlords, Somerset County Council.
Mendip YMCA and Somerset County Council have been back and forth for almost a year, negotiating a new long term lease that would allow the YMCA to make improvements to the centre, but so far, little progress has been made.
Fast forward to 2016 and repairs are still urgently needed, repairs Mendip YMCA say should have been carried out by Somerset County Council as they are ultimately responsible for maintaining the building.
“It’s a very frustrating situation because we want to develop and expand the centre but we don’t have the funds,” said Mark Wilcox, a youth and community development manager at Mendip YMCA. “Over £100,000 worth of repairs are needed to fix the roof, install a new heating system and lighting, and that’s before the developments we have planned.
“We would be crippling ourselves before we’ve even started. I really hope the negations come to fruition because the worse case scenario is we would have to pull out, which would be such a shame.
“But at the end of the day, currently the building is not fit for purpose – the heating doesn’t work, the roof has holes in it and is leaking. We’ve been told it could come down at any time, so it’s not safe for groups to use.”
The centre is home to approximately 15 local community and sports groups and also holds a popular youth club twice a week. However, already groups are being warned to look for other premises.
Frome Netball Club is being forced to play in Warminster as the sports hall they use has been deemed unsafe.
June Barnes, president of the club said, “This is just not good enough. We have been using the facility for over 60 years and now we have to travel out of Frome, all because Somerset County Council aren’t doing their job properly. If they had kept up the maintenance then there wouldn’t be any problems. It’s disgusting and they should be ashamed of themselves.”
A spokesperson from Mendip YMCA said, “Mendip YMCA have continued to manage the youth centre so that the activities there can continue and has raised funds to deal with some of the problems. Problems with the roof and lack of heating have restricted the activities that can be run.
“Unfortunately, the extent of the problems arising from long-term lack of maintenance, the age and the condition of the buildings is much greater than was anticipated when we agreed to step in. As a charity it would be irresponsible for us take on the liability for major repairs which were in fact needed before we took on the youth centre.
“We have been negotiating with Somerset Country Council to take a long-term lease, but terms have not yet been agreed.
“We would like to move forward with the project and make improvements in the future for the community and youth club. We remain hopeful.”
A spokesperson for Somerset County Council said, “Last year the council agreed terms to let the Frome Youth and Community Centre buildings to Mendip YMCA on a long-term basis. The agreement recognised the stark reality that the authority is not in a position to continue to fund the ongoing maintenance of the building.
“Following productive talks with the YMCA, we are re-exploring whether any additional funds can be made available. It is understood the YMCA has already obtained significant funds for maintaining and improving the building.”
