COUNCIL chiefs have put Pershore’s Cemetery Lodge on the market in a bid to develop a new Community and Family History Centre for the town, the Observer can reveal.
The vacant lodge has been empty for the past three years and Pershore Town Council has been looking at what to do with the lodge which has incurred costs despite being empty.
One of the options was to transform the lodge into a Family History Centre, but council chiefs found the refurbishment and alteration works needed would be much more expensive than first expected and the rooms would have been too small to host groups of school children.
However, at a full council meeting last Thursday (September 1), councillors agreed to put the lodge on the market with any cash from the sale going towards a new community building, which would include a Family History Centre.
Pershore lost its community centre years ago after St. Agatha’s Hall was sold and some councillors suggested the new building would be a replacement.
The new centre could potentially be built on the adjacent cemetery field next to the new 50 bay car park.
Speaking to the Observer, Pershore Mayor Coun Bob Gillmor, said: “To sell the lodge is a very difficult decision. It was only taken after many hours of careful consideration and debate, thinking about every other option.
“The proceeds will be set aside towards a possible a new Family History Centre which could have wider community use and be a great benefit to the town.
“It would be most helpful to know what residents think of this idea and whether, should the project proceed, they would make use of such a community building.”
Council chiefs now want to hear from residents to get their views on the proposals as the town council hopes to put the lodge on the market before wintry weather arrives.
Anyone with comments on these proposals are urged to contact the Town Clerk by Friday, September 16 by e-mailing [email protected] or by writing to Ann Dobbins, 34 High Street, Pershore, WR10 1DS.
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