THE future running of Wellington Community Centre has been saved after a number of new faces stepped forward at its annual meeting to serve on its management committee.

It was the centre’s third attempt to hold an annual meeting this year after too few people attended on earlier occasions.

Community centre secretary Jill Mitton had warned that the existing committee was only at half-strength with five members and because of their ages they were struggling to do all that was needed.

Several of the committee were in their 80s and Mrs Mitton said younger people were needed to help keep it going.

Now, the management committee has been able to recruit five new members to bring it up to full strength and add to the range of skillsets needed to keep the centre operating.

The community centre, in White Hart Lane, was built by Follett Bros, which also constructed the town’s cottage hospital, and was opened in 1906.

Mrs Mitton was re-elected secretary and bookings secretary at the annual meeting with her husband Dave re-elected chairman, and museum and history society curator Colin Spackman as treasurer.

Mr Mitton said the community centre was financially sound and was able to cover the costs of overheads and regular maintenance from its own funds without having to apply for grants.

Mrs Mitton reported that the centre was extremely well-used with a wide variety of organisations booking it every month.

She said the centre belonged to the people of Wellington and was held in trust by Somerset Council on behalf of the community.

Mrs Mitton said management committee members were passionate about the facility and the last thing anybody wanted to see was for it to be closed for lack of volunteers to run it.

She said: “We now have all 10 places on the committee filled, which is fantastic news.”

The future of the community centre is due to be discussed at Monday evening’s (June 5) monthly meeting of Wellington Town Council in the United Reformed Church Hall, in Fore Street.

It was added to the meeting agenda after concerned town councillors read in the Wellington Weekly about the community centre management group’s plight.