Coalfields Regeneration Trust demands answers over sale of Mexborough community hub

THE Coalfields Regeneration Trust has asked for key paperwork over the controversial sale of a community building in Mexborough.

The CRT, which pumped £300,000 into MCP back in 2006, said in January that it was “disappointed” the community group had struck a deal with Pete Newman, the owner of Mexborough Business Centre for “less than market value and without consultation”.

CRT chief executive Gary Ellis said at the time that they would be “pursuing” MCP for “for further clarification to ascertain how this decision was reached”.

And this week he said: “We can confirm that we are continuing our discussions with the Mexborough Community Partnership and have requested additional documents that will allow us to better understand the rationale for the sale of the building.

“Given discussions are ongoing, we have no further comment to make at this time.”

MCP insisted the deal was the best possible outcome for the partnership and Mexborough as a whole after the loss of two major tenants last year, with one citing its own funding cuts. 

Financial documents from 2017 set the partnership’s assets at £900,000, but paperwork relating to the sale of the resource centre put the sale price at £120,000.

The business centre will pay MCP £100,000 over ten years, plus a £20,000 deposit, as well as providing it with accommodation in the resource centre. 

MCP said a solicitor and the Charity Commission - which had “no objections” - had been involved in the sale.

The combined cash-plus-accommodation deal was worth more than the initial valuation of between £200,000 and £250,000, MCP said, insisting the proceeds would go towards work training for residents, helping community groups and environmental projects and tackling loneliness and mental health issues.