40 jobs face axe at Bloxwich Pinfold Centre

Plans have been lodged to demolish Pinfold Centre, used by a charity which provides construction training for adults and youngsters, to make way for a car park.

The Frank F Harrison Community Association, which has been providing training in the town for 30 years, has been based at the Field Close centre since February and bosses said the charity had already spent £20,000 on getting the building ready to provide a range of courses from September.

Debra Mohammed, business manager, said it was 'devastating' that the charity could fold if plans to demolish the building are passed and a Polio support group, with 60 members, would also lose its home.

The charity currently delivers construction courses from the Construction Skills Centre, in Leamore Lane, but it has to vacate the venue next month.

There were plans for courses in construction, motorbike mechanics, English and maths to run at the venue from September.

The charity had also won a grant to build a £10,000 communications suite at the base.

Ms Mohammed said: "This obviously leaves us in an untenable situation as we have invested time and money into this new project and if we will not be able to fulfil our contracts to deliver courses up to August 2014, it will put our whole organisation and jobs at risk. There are 40 staff working at the community association.

"We have helped over 200 people by providing training opportunities just over the last year."

Proposals by Walsall Council for a new leisure centre in Bloxwich involve flattening the Education Support Centre, in Field Road, and Pinfold Centre, with a decision yet to be made by planning chiefs.

Ms Mohammed added: "They want to demolish the building just to build a car park. It's unfair. We are devastated and don't have the funding to move elsewhere."

The new leisure centre would include a six-lane 25 metre swimming pool, a learner pool, a four court sports hall, 80 station fitness suite, dance studio and squash courts.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader in the Walsall Council coalition, said: "This is very early days and a lot of water has to pass under the bridge.

"We've put in a planning application for a new location for the proposed New Bloxwich leisure centre in High Street and regeneration officers are supporting colleagues in leisure and culture.

"We own the site in question but we're talking to the Frank F. Harrison Community Association and Polio Society who are our tenants at the Pinfold Centre to help towards finding them a new home.

"We're also looking to relocate education support staff from a second building."