Building should be used by residents

LETTER - I am a local primary school teacher and a resident of Sundorne.

I was frustrated to hear the recent decision made about the Martial Arts Centre in Sundorne Road. It seems such a waste of public money to demolish it.

Is this going to be another wasted site? If there are people willing to buy, renovate and use the building to serve the local community, surely that will be much better use for the site?

North Shrewsbury Community Church recently raised £34,000 by giving their own money because they want to buy and make use of the building.

Some of the things they already do are Kidz Klub every Saturday for children aged five to 11, Fusion youth group, fun days, quiz nights, bingo and chips nights (which raised £200 for charity) and discos.

The church is also part of Soul Purpose, which every year sees hundreds of young people litter picking, gardening and running fun days in the areas of Sundorne, Harlescott and Ditherington. Events are made possible by renting space in buildings but it would be great to have a building where they all could be based.

There was also another offer from another party to buy the building. But according to nearly all the councillors who voted, it would serve the community much better as a flat piece of waste land? It doesn't even seem to make sense. So why then does the council refuse to listen to residents, who will give their own money in a bid to buy this building and already have a record of serving the community through various events?

E Davies, Shrewsbury