BOSSES at St Thomas’s Community Network in Dudley have confirmed they have taken the “devastating” decision to close the much-loved community facility.

Against a backdrop of increasing running costs and funding for courses drying up, trustees say they had no alternative but to close the popular network, which has served residents in the Kates Hill area for 26 years.

Ward councillor and chairman of the trustees Steve Waltho said it had not been possible “to change the very culture of the Network from being a caring community organisation into a commercially viable business”.

Cllr Waltho, currently Dudley’s Mayor, added: “In these very difficult financial times the irony is that the Network and its services are as relevant as ever but in aging premises with ever rising running costs and funding for courses all but drying up the Board of Trustees had no choice but to make the heart-breaking decision to close this legendary facility.”

He said described the Network, which is a base for community groups, educational classes, a nursery, furniture store and GP practice, as a “unique facility, with a mixture of devoted employed staff and volunteers, which will be greatly missed by all who use its services and premises”.

And he added: “Dudley Council is being very supportive and we are working with them to see what services and jobs can be salvaged. We are also looking at the possibility of utilising other premises in future to continue some of the services".

Councillor Pete Lowe, leader of the council, said: “As a community council we have worked closely with St Thomas’s Network to commission services such as a nursery and adult education and we are working hard behind the scenes to ensure these can continue.

“We have, for a number of years, provided administrative and financial help to the charity, but with ever decreasing funding from central government, we are not in a position to meet the increasing pressures on the council budget.

"However, we will to provide help and support to the charity, including the staff and people using the services, as they wind down their work.”

Dudley's MP Ian Austin blamed also Government austerity cuts for the closure and said: “I’ve worked closely with the Network and seen at first hand the valuable work they do in Kates Hill, so I think this is a disaster for the area.

“We can ill afford to lose the training courses for young people and the unemployed, the help they provide for families and the work they do to bring the community together."

The Network, situated in Beechwood Road, is expected to close sometime in the autumn.