Pinehurst Community Centre saved

Pinehurst residents are celebrating after their local community centre was saved by Aylesbury-based Active In The Community.

Announcing the news on social media, Kingsmead Cllr.Vicky Glover-Ward posted: "Brilliant news: Kingsmead Residents' Association - Hertford  has been working with local East Herts Councillors, East Herts Council and the current management group for Pinehurst Community Centre so that the centre can be put into full repair and use.

"Active in the Community - Hertfordshire have agreed to take over the running of the community centre. 

"It's early days and there will be more information to follow including a programme for everything to happen but this is great news for Pinehurst and Kingsmead! A great example of council and community working together"

On their website, Active In The Community describe themselves as "a not for profit organisation that aims to help get our communities moving more, through providing 'Affordable and Accessible' activity programmes and community facilities."

The future of the community centre has been in doubt for a number years. Ongoing attempts to get a lease granted to the Pinehurst Tenants association has remained fruitless and volunteers in the association had "stepped away", accirding to East Herts Council.

The new full repairing lease enables Active in the Community to take over the running of the the hall from the Council and tenants association, with the aim to increase its availability for use by the local community and to try to bring in external funding to improve the facilities. Active in the community also manage the Keynton Court former Scout Herts in Sele farm and have had success in running this as a community hub.  

Active In The Community were supported by Hertford Town Council, who provided a grant of £25,000 for the project.

Proposals to redevelop the centre to provide homes were mooted in 2018 but never came to fruition.