News first broke of the possibility of the Nythe Community Centre being knocked down last month when parents were emailed to say they would need to arrange childcare for May 2 because the nursery was being used for polling.
The polling is usually done in the adjacent community centre building, but parents were informed that the centre was being demolished in April.
This follows an unsuccessful attempt from Nythe, Eldene and Liden Parish Council to save it, with the local authority putting in a bid for a grant to refurbish it, but that application was removed and no longer available to apply for.
Now that the institution has reached the end of its existence, Swindon Borough Council has determined that it will close.
“Unfortunately, the community centre and the building on the adjoining site have reached the end of their life and are no longer suitable for use,” stated Councillor Jim Grant, cabinet member for communities and joint working.
As a result, we have decided to demolish the structure and reconsider the potential uses for the united property.
“We will make sure this is looked into as part of the evaluation, as we recognise there is a demand for a community space in the area.”
As chair of both the Liden Parish Council and Nythe Eldene Council, Councillor Kevin Parry stated: “As you are aware, the parish council and borough council have been working to save the community facility.
The parish council submitted a bid to raise the necessary funds for the reconstruction. We were advised that there was a halt on this bid.
“Any decisions to remove the building and stop the parish council from taking the building is down to the borough council cabinet.”
Cllr Parry affirmed that Nythe Community Centre had submitted an application for a community grant.
“We must provide as much proof as we can that the facility is necessary. So, please email the clerk if you believe you would like to manage a group or rent the Community Centre if we were successful,” he urged.
Early in 2021, the centre closed as a result of the retiring trustees’ decision to age.
Five more persons had offered themselves as community centre trustees later that year, but the center’s state prevented it from opening again without major construction.
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