Fate of Norwich's Wensum Lodge discussed by Norfolk council

Senior members of Norfolk County Council said they would not commit to ensuring the former adult education base remained in public ownership, with the King Street venue up for sale.

Wensum Lodge in Norwich is up for sale (Image: Sonya Duncan)

The Conservative-controlled council agreed last summer to close Wensum Lodge - which had hosted adult education courses since the 1960s - and to put it up for sale.

Local groups had until early April to come up with bids to take over the city centre building after it was declared as an asset of community value.

But none were forthcoming before the deadline, so the building is now on the market with Brown&Co.

Mike Smith-Clare (Image: Labour Party)

At a meeting of the county council's cabinet on Wednesday, Labour councillor Mike Smith-Clare asked the council to commit to selling it to a community group.

He said: "Although it is disappointing there was no bid for Wensum Lodge from a community interest group, the scale of the task makes that unsurprising.

"However that does not mean Wensum Lodge should be lost to the community.

"Will the administration join with Labour county councillors in committing to ensuring Wensum Lodge remains in public or community ownership and is used for arts, cultural and educational purposes?"

Margaret Dewsbury (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

But Margaret Dewsbury, the council's cabinet member for communities and partnerships, said: "As Mr Smith-Clare notes no community group put in a proposal during the
'moratorium' period, during which information on the condition and running costs of
the site were provided to interested parties.

"The site is now being formally marketed and Norfolk County Council will consider any bids from community groups, alongside commercial offers.

"As such, the council is willing to consider offers from public sector or voluntary groups for
the site.

"However given the importance of the site, we will need to have confidence that
they have sufficient finance and structures in place to manage a large and complex
site."

Wensum Lodge in Norwich (Image: Brown&Co)

The council's decision to shut the centre, which it said was no longer fit for purpose, sparked controversy, protests and the creation of a Friends of Wensum Lodge group to fight for its future.

Courses at the centre stopped at the end of last year, with most now run at other venues.