TEACHER'S BID TO SAVE CHURCH HALL

The Canon O'Donnell Centre in Western Road is being sold to the highest bidder in February.

Collette Goodwin, who lives in nearby Spital Road, plans to bid to keep it open for the community.

Said Collette: 'The centre has slowly been allowed to fall into disrepair.

'With leaking chimneys, rotten windows, broken toilets and heating that never works, no wonder that many groups have stopped using it and, as it failed to earn its keep, has become a liability for the parish council of St Pancras RC Church.

'Like so many buildings in Lewes, the most likely fate is that it will be turned into flats.

'There are limited facilities with large halls or studios in Lewes. Those in the area are always booked up and, what with the additional loss of the Gardner Arts Centre in Falmer and the loss of this building, there will not be enough to go around for all of the fantastic arts and leisure pursuits of the people of Lewes.'

Western Road has a strong residents group which is keen to see the centre retained and put to good use.

The guide price for keeping it for community use is 400,000.

St Pancras parish priest Father Richard Biggerstaff said he looked forward to opening the bids on February 16. The church had plans to open alternative community space at the Islands Lane presbytery and church.