A MEETING to save Pinehurst People's Centre from demolition has been arranged for Monday night.

The public meeting has been called by members of the Pinehurst Com-munity Association which opposes council plans to demolish it and use part of the land for housing.

But councillors who represent the Pinehurst area are unlikely to make it as they have been called to a special meeting to discuss the town's troubled education system.

A letter sent to members of the community association on behalf of chairman Ray Baughn, says: "The Pinehurst Community Association have strong objections to these proposals and ask you to support them by attending a meeting to air your views on this very important issue."

The council's recommended choice for the future is to demolish the building and re-built it to include a new library and learning centre. Part of the site would be used for housing.

But the public must be consulted on the proposals before the plans are fully decided. The consultation is scheduled to get underway in February and its outcome will be brought back to the cabinet.

Mr Baughn told the Advertiser: "We haven't been informed on anything, although we have seen the plans for the replacement building which would be smaller.

"The council have just given us one of the options which doesn't involve retaining the community centre. Meanwhile, we've got more and more groups wanting to use the current building."Last month, it was proposed that strained relations between the council and the Pinehurst community could see an external body brought in to oversee consultations on the future of the centre.

Earlier this year the council was blamed for leaving the elderly management committee isolated and poorly advised when financial problems got out of hand last year.

The committee was forced to hand over the running of the centre to the council and the whole saga left relations in tatters.

Labour leader, Sue Bates, who represents Gorse Hill and Pinehurst, said: "We've been invited to the meeting. It's just that there is a special council meeting that night."

Coun Arthur Archer (Lab, Gorse Hill) said he hoped to make it at some point during the evening.

"Everybody in Pinehurst has got the idea the council are going to pull the building down," he said. Coun Maurice Fanning (Lab, Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) said: "Sadly I won't be able to be there because of the other council meeting.

"But as far as I can see, none of these options for the building are going to take place if there are costs involved, what with the council's current finances."

The meeting takes place at the Pinehurst Community Centre main hall from 6pm. All are welcome.