People in Hednesford could face more than a year without their much-loved Aquarius ballroom when the lease on the building runs out.

The venue, in Victoria Street, provides a thriving community centre.

But it looks set to be demolished as part of the redevelopment of Hednesford town centre when the lease – currently held by Ron and Lynn Bridgewater under their company Giraffe Leisure Ltd – runs out in January 2010.

The couple, of Station Road, Hednesford, said they took on the Aquarius because they were led to believe they could continue to operate in the current building while the new ballroom was built on the ATP site in Victoria Street – and they would be offered the new site. They claim this led them to battle on in the face of financial woes; taking on other work to keep the business going.

But now the Bridgewaters say following a meeting with Cannock Chase Council they have learned the building will be demolished when their lease runs out, and the new venue will take 18 months to rebuild.

The couple have applied to the district council for hardship relief, asking their non-domestic rates are cut.