THE uncertain future of the Maidenhead Community Centre is set be debated in September; the council leader announces.

A passionate petition was set up to stop the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) Council from evicting volunteers this October as the centre will be demolished for 63 flats as part of regeneration works.

Campaigners say they will be left ‘in limbo’ when RBWM moves them to the back of Maidenhead town hall, a location they called ‘inadequate’ due to its tight squeeze, until new accommodation is built for them in 2023 at the earliest.

At a virtual full council meeting on July 28 (Tuesday), councillor Andrew Johnson (Conservative: Hurley and Walthams), leader of RBWM, confirmed he will not wait until the petition is submitted – but will instead set up an extraordinary meeting in September to debate this issue.

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He said: “That will be an extra meeting held in September to discuss this very important issue which I have been lobbied by numerous residents.

“I have listened, I have heard the views of those who have signed it.

“I would like to reassure that a long-term solution was already work in progress – but I do like accelerating things which is why I will be calling that September meeting.”

Reacting to Cllr Johnson’s statement, Jack Douglas, the trustee for the centre and set up the petition, said he was happy the campaign has been acknowledge by the council – but doesn’t know yet what they will propose as it is early days.

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He said: “I did listen to what he [Cllr Johnson] said in full council on YouTube – and the way he spoke seemed positive.

“He seemed to have presented it as this is going to be a positive development – but whether his idea on what we need aligns with what we need, we just don’t know yet.

“Hopefully, we’ll find out soon.”

The petition currently has 1,275 signatures and it would’ve needed 1,500 for it to be brought forward to full council.

Cllr Johnson announced on social media that the ‘long-term solution’ will be published on RBWM’s website a week before the meeting once there’s a confirmed date.