A NEW home could be on the cards for Workington Town Council as it has set the ball rolling on buying Princess Street Day Centre.

At a recent full meeting of the town council on November 25, a motion to purchase the building on the edge of Vulcan Park was proposed by Councillor Paul Scott and passed unanimously.

The finance and general purposes committee had assessed the purchase prior to the meeting and agreed that the cost would be met from the budget set aside from Vulcan Park.

Speaking about the motion, Coun. Scott said: “It became surplus to requirement by Cumbria County Council and we went into negotiations with them and we agreed a price about.

"From our point of view it’s about delivering more and costing the tax payers less. Since Workington town council was formed we’ve rented rooms off Allerdale Council in the town hall.

“The Princess Street Day Centre can be paid off within four years and after that it’s saving we can apply.

“We would have our own room with community opportunities. It has a nice big room there and people can come and use it.

“Community groups can go their own things in that room as well and obviously save the council money.”

The funds will come from the council’s earmarked reserves and will not utilise any of the underspends that have resulted from the Covid-9 restrictions.

Mayor of Workington, Janet King, said: “This will demonstrate a real value for money for Workington residents as the cost of the building and its refurbishments will be recouped after only four years of the council not having to pay rent on the rooms they currently occupy in the town hall.

“The Independent-led council is focusing on delivering savings while improving the services that can be offered to the community and it is anticipated that future cost savings will be about £11,000 per year, which will be put back into local amenities.

“It is foreseen that this resource will provide additional facilities to benefit local people and will be a real asset to the town, drawing more people into the council’s major attraction, Vulcan Park.”

Coun. Scott sees the move as a huge benefit for the council and people of Workington.