KINGSBRIDGE Town Council have withdrawn its expression of interest in the potential transfer of Ropewalk Resource Centre to Kingsbridge Community, due to financial pressures.

The council discussed the issue at length at their full council meeting.

Martin Johnston, clerk to the town council, and the working group put together a report weighing up the pros and cons for the council to consider.

The working group noted that between them, Kingsbridge Town Council and the Kingsbridge Girl Guides, who are looking for their own space, would not have enough to bid for the building.

Together, they estimate they could have around 40 per cent of the capital needed to buy the building, and would need to prove 60 per cent in community value. That bid would then go up against developers’ bids.

If they managed to win the bid, they would gain the site, but would have no funds and a very old building, which would be in need of renovation or demolition and re-building into a community centre – which would cost a large amount.

Mr Johnston pointed out the amount of work that went into the unsuccessful bid for the Centre of Kingsbridge Community six years ago, which cost £38,000 of public money and still failed to obtain the site.

For more on this story, see this week’s Kingsbridge & Salcombe Gazette