TRUSTEES of a Dursley community centre are growing frustrated at being forced to wait for cash promised to them for a building revamp.

St Modwen, the developer of the Littlecombe site in Dursley, agreed in 2005 to give significant amounts of money towards nearby community facilities, including £200,000 for the Chantry Centre in Long Street, as part of a Section 106 agreement when granted planning permission by Stroud District Council.

When work began on the new houses on the old Lister plot, trustees at the centre were told that the money would be released in the final phase of construction, on the sale of the 194th home.

But, after delays to construction work at the Littlecombe site, the date when the money will come through has been put back several times and is now not expected until 2022.

“We’re really disappointed that there has been yet another delay,” said Angela Jones, a trustee of the Chantry Centre.

“We were due to get the money this month, and before that we had been expecting it last year some time, but they keep moving the goal posts.”

Angela said the building, which is widely used by members of the community, including cheerleading and archery groups, the Toy Library and the DODS drama group, is in vital need of an upgrade.

“As well as structural repairs and new toilets, the whole building is in need of a bit of TLC, so that more people will be encouraged to use it,” she said.

“It hasn’t really had an update since the 1970s.

“We want to upgrade it so that we can use it as a multi functional building, suitable for lots of different organisations,” she added.

“When we were promised this money in 2005, £200,000 then would pay for a lot more then than it will today.

“We will be able to do less and less with the same amount of money as the years go on.”

A spokesman for St Modwen said: “As agreed at the outset, we have committed to pay a contribution of £355,000 ahead of the sale of our 194th home. To date, 28 homes are in occupation.

"On the basis of current market conditions, we are hoping to make the contribution during 2022, all being well.”

A spokesman for Stroud District Council said St Modwen was within its rights to have not yet given out all of the stipulated financial contributions to the community.

“The Littlecombe development is not complete so no remunerations have not been received yet, however, considerable contributions have already been released as part of the Section 106 agreement,” said the council spokesman.

“This includes £386,000 given to Gloucestershire County Council for education, public transport and highway improvements, and £115,240 for community facilities which has been distributed to the Dursley Youth Centre Project, Cam Jubilee Playing Fields changing rooms and improvements to the Pulse, Dursley.

“Another £355,000 will be released once a development trigger has been met which will benefit the Chantry Centre, Dursley Tabernacle, GL11 Community Hub and Dursley Community Centre.

“This will be an exciting time for Dursley with significant improvements made to much-valued community facilities.”