A BID to list a small sports centre and playing fields as ‘community assets’ is being pursued to head off any future sale of the land and building.

Horwich Town Council this week discussed the future of the Hilton Community Centre on Nuttall Avenue in Horwich after members expressed fears of a possible future sale of the premises, as its lease expired in 2020.

The building is currently occupied by Hilton Table Tennis Club.

Their history dates back to 1995, when the Bolton Table Tennis League was given a 25-year lease on the centre by Bolton Council to provide a centre for playing table tennis.

The centre, which has its own dedicated management team, provides multiple facilities for table tennis and is due to re-open to players on Monday, May 17 after being closed since last September due to pandemic restrictions.

Vales ward councillor David Grant, who was also elected to Bolton Council last Thursday brought a motion this week to’ seek approval for the council to apply to list the community centre and associated playing fields as an asset of community value’.

A listing as an asset of community value offers greater opportunity for communities to keep such buildings in public use.

If a community organisation nominates land or buildings that meet the definition then Bolton Council must include the asset on its list.

The town council backed the motion.

Cllr Grant, said: “Earlier this year a food bank was looking for  suitable storage as their facilities they were using at the time were needed as lockdown was beginning to ease.

“We knew the lease had expired at the Hilton Community Centre and approached the council to ensure if a new lease was to be offered so we could stipulate that the rooms which were not used for table tennis could be earmarked for community use.

“After an initial communication from Martin Cox, advising he would look into the situation, we heard nothing else.

“However we did hear from third parties that Bolton Council had instructed their facilities management company Robertson to ascertain its value.

“At this point we made the decision to raise the motion to apply for an asset of community value.”

Cllr Grant added that he was concerned that with the council under financial pressure to realise value of all their assets for possible disposal it could lead to the loss of yet another community facility at a time when community groups and indoor sporting provision is at a premium in Horwich and Blackrod.

He said: “With our communities set to grow by up to 25 per cent in the coming years we need more not fewer facilities.”

Cllr Cox, who was Bolton’s cabinet member for development and regeneration before the election said that as elections had just happened the council had not yet formed an administration.

He added that should he continue his previous role he would be more than happy to meet with town councillors from Horwich to discuss the future of the community centre and playing fields.