COUNCILLORS have slammed fresh plans t sell ff a remte cmmunity s village centre. The frmer chapel at Black Hrse Drve has been used as a cmmunity centre fr mre than 20 years, but since last May, the cunty cuncil-wned centre has been up fr s

COUNCILLORS have slammed fresh plans t sell ff a remte cmmunity's village centre.

The frmer chapel at Black Hrse Drve has been used as a cmmunity centre fr mre than 20 years, but since last May, the cunty cuncil-wned centre has been up fr sale. Fr sme residents it is a lifeline as a mther and tddler facility and internet access pint.

"That hall was given ver fr cmmunity use when the schl was shut. The cmmunity has run it at n cst t the cunty cuncil." said Cllr Andy Wright.

At a meeting f Littleprt Parish Cuncil n Mnday, district cuncillr Fred Brwn said: "The cunty cuncil have sucked us dry fr assets. Mrally, they shuld dnate Black Hrse Drve as part f their duty t the cmmunity f Littleprt." He was unanimusly supprted by parish cuncillrs.

"The cunty cuncil have pulled the heart ut f that village. It's the nly cmmunity building they have left, and the centre is the nly place they can use fr a baptism. When there was a develper interested in building huses dwn there, they rejected that chap even thugh he was prepared t give them mney fr the village hall," added Cllr Brwn.

A cunty cuncil spkesman said: "We have a statutry bligatin t achieve best value fr the sale f cunty cuncil assets. Littleprt Parish Cuncil asked if they culd buy the Black Hrse Drve centre fr a nminal fee.

"We've asked them t prvide a business plan during March and we will certainly cnsider an exemptin nce they have prvided us with a prfessinally wrded plan."

He added: "It's clearly an under-used asset therwise we wuldn't be selling it ff.