Prospective buyers of St Paul’s Centre will ‘preserve it’ for public use, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

The owner of an Enfield community centre that was put up for sale has accepted an offer that it says would preserve its current public use.

St Paul’s Centre in Enfield Town has been open for more than 40 years but was put on the market for £2.2million after its previous management group, Enfield Town and Forty Hill Churches Joint Trust, decided to close it to the public because it was “no longer able to run and maintain the building”.

The United Reformed Church (URC), which owns the building, subsequently confirmed it had been put up for sale. Community groups using the centre were initially given until the end of October to find alternative premises, but can now remain in the building until the end of the year.

Reverend George Watt, moderator of the URC’s Thames North Synod, said: “Following the announcement of the closure of St Paul’s Centre in Church Street in August, the United Reformed Church Thames North Synod can confirm that it has decided to sell the property and has accepted an offer which is for existing community use as a church and community centre. Solicitors will be instructed on the sale shortly.

“Thames North Synod has agreed that current users can remain in the building until the end of 2022 and has also provided space for temporary storage of larger furniture items for the North London Ukrainian Hub as Ukrainian families are rehoused following the expiry of their initial six-month host agreements. This storage facility will also end by 31st December.”

Age UK Enfield, which hosts exercise classes in the centre, said it would be looking for new premises. Gill Fletcher, from the local branch of University of the Third Age (U3A), said the organisation would be relocating to Enfield Baptist Church in Cecil Road for their main meetings from November.

She added: “This does mean we have had to change the day of the meetings to the second Wednesday of the month instead of the Monday. The first meeting there will be on 9th November.

“The change of day means some members are no longer able to attend the meetings, but the new venue gives us more space so we will be able to accommodate more people.

“Our subject and activity groups have also managed to find new meeting places. Several are moving to Enfield Library, some use the Culture Palace, and a local pub has also been very welcoming.”

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