Leicester's Peepul Centre could be taken over by a charity
A charity is set to take over the running of a £19 million community centre.
Leicester's Peepul Centre has struggled financially since it was launched in October 2005 and, in 2008, was taken over by city housing group LHA-ASRA, which said it would put it on a firmer financial footing.
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But three years on, a deal is being lined up to hand over the centre to a charity.
Matt Cooney, chief executive of the LHA-ASRA Group, said: "I can confirm that the group is currently in negotiations with a charity with a view to it taking over the running of the Peepul Centre.
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"When these negotiations are completed, we will be in a position to announce full details. In the meantime, we will continue to undertake consultation with the local community."
The housing group, a not-for-profit business worth more than £300 million, has invested millions of pounds in the centre which includes a theatre, gym, restaurant, dance studio and IT suite.
Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said: "The Peepul Centre is iconic. It started as a tiny women's refuge and became a £20 million state-of-the-art building."
He said he was concerned that local people had not been told about the charity taking over.
He said: "If they had, efforts could have been made to find a local organisation to run the centre. People at the centre are concerned about this, and so are people in the community."
Mr Vaz called for talks between the housing association, himself and community to discuss the proposals.
In response, Mr Cooney told the Mercury: "I have sent a detailed letter to Mr Vaz explaining the position and our proposals for the Peepul Centre moving forward."
An anonymous source linked to the centre said: "It's worrying that no-one is able to steady the ship. It's struggled financially ever since it opened.
"People here are worried about more upheaval."
Money to build the centre came from the Arts Council, National Lottery, East Midlands Development Agency and the European Union.
Leicester City Council gave £200,000.
The campaign to get the Peepul Centre built was led by Rita Patel, who ran it until it was taken over by LHA-ASRA. She is now a city councillor.
Comments
by disident2
Thursday, September 29 2011, 9:37AM
“Braunstone is full of wonderful things according to a Councillor at the Party Jamboree. Yet where is the employment; you know the jobs. Braunstone not working have no funds left. The Business Box is on its last legs. Where is the revenue they promised the estate? Going to fill the pension black hole they the experts forgot about. Two weeks to see a Doctor at the PCT Offices Hockley Farm Road. £6.5 million for an office block called the Health Centre nothing like the plans we agreed too. What chance have we got to improve the estate? We certainly improved some bank balances.”
by iamkvaz
Thursday, September 29 2011, 9:11AM
“Can we not continue to call this `hands in ever other persons pockets` a council?It is a circus ,full of clowns.Not one has the decency to have an opinion(sorry two did).Ringmaster Soulsby has them all in check”
by disident2
Wednesday, September 28 2011, 6:57PM
“Why was my post removed? To honest for the mercury”
by disident2
Wednesday, September 28 2011, 6:52PM
“I see no problem in this deal. It happened in Braunstone Regeneration. Where did £50 million go??????? Yes, yes ,yes all the big boys had their fingers in the pie. The money was to provide jobs for the highly paid friends and companies who raked off the money. Of course the LHA helped Braunstone; well at least while the money lasted where are they now??????? It appears they and the City Council are now fighting over the bones and any scragg ends that maybe left to cover the massive pension Black hole. Residents? WHO?”
by blackka
Wednesday, September 28 2011, 7:59AM
“This situation does have a familiar ring to it .2 city councillors ,1property/business changing hands between the two associations that they represent,council cash,European funding,nobody can say where all the money went ......AND......VAZ !”
by blackka
Wednesday, September 28 2011, 6:56AM
“If you want to know where all the money went ask the circus(oops council) under the freedom of information act to give you the information.You may get a reply from a gwynn wyeth to say they cannot provide the information as it will take more than 18 hours to provide and cost more than £450 .So someone is on £25 an hour to look at a document .Circus saving money ?”
by DonHenson
Wednesday, September 28 2011, 5:17AM
“The Peepul Centre has been a joke from day one.
Any charity taking it on had better have deep pockets”
by WhatTheFox
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 5:29PM
“This whole Peepul Centre idea was a sham. Rita Patel started the centre using public funds and contributions. The centre started off ok but then within 2 years it was struggling hard and then taken over by LHA-ASRA. Believe it or not but the chief exec of LHA-ASRA is married to Rita Patel. (Alram bells ringing yet?) Yet again the centre is struggling hard and needs help. Where did all the funding go? First from public funds when it opened? Second from LHA-ASRA's supposed take over?
Some one needs to investigate this one from start to finish. Rumour has it Rita Patel and her husband made a substantial financial gain from the Peepul Centre.
By the way, if anyone is wondering what Keith Vaz is upto, check this link out:
http://tinyurl.com/6zl27ju”
by Rob_1
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 5:09PM
“Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said: "The Peepul Centre is iconic. It started as a tiny women's refuge and became a £20 million state-of-the-art building."
£20 million state-of-the-art building or should that read 'white elephant' and I assume that is how much it has lost since being built, as for it being iconic shouldn't that read ironic.”
by blackka
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 3:54PM
“Any comment from councilor rita patel?NO.Is she a representative of the area ?NO.
Maybe scared to comment and be sanctioned .Or something to hide ?Maybe a few quid made somewhere ?
Ask Vazeline ?”