MEMBERS of a Pinehurst-based church group are furious with the council over the alleged poor state of the centre they use for weekly worship.

Victory Centre Swindon, who for the past six years have used council-owned Pinetrees Community Centre for Sunday and weekday services, have complained that the building is without heating and, worse, is often locked when they have been due to use it.

Pastor Chidi Uche, who conducts the weekly services, said: “Except for the first few months since moving into the centre, there has been a steady decline in the facilities, such as the lack of cleanliness and maintenance.

“The church recently learnt that the central heating broke down, but the council have not provided alternative heating nor have they contacted the church to explain their position, despite various complaints by the church.

“Worse still, we have been frequently locked out of the centre for no reason and without warning.”

The most recent incident, according to the pastor, occurred on Sunday, February 5 when members arrived only to find the building locked up.

He said: “Little babies, small children, pregnant women and vulnerable adults were left in the cold for hours and none of the council staff with access to the centre was contacted.

“For up to ten times now, members have turned up for services only to find out that the place has been locked.”

But the council has taken issue with one of the pastor’s claims.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “We have been liaising very closely with all centre groups over the issues with the heating, so any suggestions by the church group that they have not been kept fully informed are simply not true.

“The heating problems have been caused by a faulty control panel, resulting in the heating having to be manually switched on when required. In order to provide heating for the group the council has arranged for a member of staff to open up the centre well before the church group’s booking slot to switch the heating on.

“Unfortunately, the centre was closed last Sunday as the husband of the lady that opens up the building was taken seriously ill the day before and we did not become aware of this until Sunday evening.

“We have advised the church group that they will be given another booking slot free of charge and this applies for any bookings that have not been honoured. In the meantime, we are trying to resolve the heating problem quickly.”