A long-running project to build a new community centre in Mirfield could be back on track.
Seven months after threatening to seize back Mirfield Community Centre, Kirklees Council agreed to transfer premises it owns on Water Royd Lane to volunteers last month.
But the cabinet imposed restrictions on what could happen to the site which prevented the group from what they wanted to do.
The group hope to sell the building, worth more than £125,000, and build new facilities on vacant land, formerly the Gilder Hall, at the foot of Greenside Road.
But Kirklees said it would slap a covenant on the asset transfer preventing the building being used for anything other than community use.
The decision meant the volunteers could not sell the premises, an old school, to finance construction of the new facility.
Mirfield councillors referred the decision to the council’s scrutiny panel, who last week upheld the complaint.
A spokesperson for the council said the cabinet would reconsider the decision and the scrutiny panel’s recommended amendment to the covenant that would allow it to be released if the building was sold.
“The proceeds could then be used specifically for the ongoing project to develop the Gilder Hall site,” the spokesperson said.
The future of the centre, used by around 800 people every week, came to a head last winter after a row over the central heating.
The boiler broke down last November and Kirklees Council insisted it would be too costly to repair.
In March a report was set to go before the council’s ruling cabinet saying the rundown building was beyond economical repair and that it should close.
After an outcry the report was withdrawn at the 11th hour.
The boiler was replaced by the Mirfield Community Trust.
