THE Anglican Church has spoken of its concerns over plans to close a council-owned centre which houses a network of community support.

Robert Wickham, a planning and property advisor to the Rochester diocese, attended a meeting on the future of the Howbury Centre, Slade Green Road, Slade Green, to voice worries on behalf of the church.

The centre, housed in the former Howbury Grange School, is to be sold to developers by Bexley Council as part of its Bexley First project.

This project will see council- owned sites in the borough sold off to help fund the building of a new civic centre in Bexleyheath.

But there is no guarantee any of the groups currently using the Howbury Centre, which include activity groups for older people, adult education classes, sports clubs, after school clubs and pre-school groups, will get a new home when the 20-acre site is developed.

At a public meeting, organised by the Slade Green Forum, Mr Wickham said the diocese was concerned the community would lose out and Bexley was "putting the cart before the horse" by not specifying the level of community facilities it required in the draft planning brief which will go to potential buyers.

Mr Wickham told News Shopper he had spoken with council officials after the meeting and had suggested the forum set up a small group to analyse what space would be needed.

He said the diocese was concerned about the Slade Green parish because it is an isolated community with lots of families who need support facilities nearby.

Mr Wickham said the diocese was anxious to help in any way it could and would be making its position known to the council in writing.

He cited the example of a new community facility in Temple Hill in Dartford.

Mr Wickham said the diocese had worked closely with Dartford Council and put more than £1m into the project.

Groups at the centre are also mounting their own campaign.

The Howbury Friends, which runs after-school and holiday clubs for children and activities for older people, has been making a video as part of its case.

Friday is the deadline for comments on the draft planning brief.

Go to bexley.gov.uk/service/ consultations/howbury to see the planning brief.

Comments can be sent by email to planning.strategy@bexley.gov.uk or in writing to any Bexley library or to Strategy Planning and Development, Wyncham House, 207 Longlands Road, Sidcup, DA15 7JH.