TRUSTEES of a Christchurch community centre have demanded a correction after inaccurate details about the facility’s recent handover were sent out by the council.

Members of Mudeford Wood Community Trust say the information could damage applications they have sent out for small grants to help fund the running of the building as well as money needed for larger scale changes.

Claire Brooks, deputy chairman of the board of trustees said: “Any local funding body reading this article may now think ‘Well, they’ve got enough’, when the reality is we simply have £20,000 toward the running and funding of a large community building.

“This is not to mention managing what our volunteers may think.”

A statement from Christchurch Borough Council said: “The information given to the press regarding the transfer of Mudeford Wood Community Centre to the Mudeford Wood Community Trust contained some factual inaccuracies.

“The report implied that £28,000 was being given to the Trust to carry out repairs on the tennis courts and £22,000 was being given to carry out maintenance work.

“In fact, both pieces of work are being carried out and paid for by the council in order to allow the facility to be fit for purpose to be handed over for continued community use.

“The report also talked about an amount of £40,000 for first year employee costs. Although this figure was originally posited, in the event the council dealt with employee matters before the transfer and no money for this was passed to the Trust.”

The trust officially took over the community centre last month after years of negotiating with the council.

A celebratory fun day organised by trustees and volunteers on April 28 raised more than £1,700 towards the centre.