A CHARITY will be shutting its support centre by the end of this month due to lack of use – despite denying claims it would shut last year.

The British Red Cross centre, in Mill Road, Maldon, will be ceasing its activities on August 30 and the building will be put up for sale.

St Mary’s Rectory is jointly owned by the British Red Cross and Royal Voluntary Service (RVS).

The centre is used for the charity’s weekly first aid training sessions, along with sessions providing mobility aid such as wheelchairs and walking sticks to those who need them, plus lunch clubs for the elderly run twice a week by the RVS.

Red Cross spokesman Michael Lascelles said: “After a thorough review, both organisations agree that we are not able to get enough daily use out of the building to justify keeping it on, and therefore we have decided to close it.

“The sale of the building will bring in vital funds to support our work.

“Our mobility aids service at Maldon will close for the final time on August 30.

“Mobility aids can be collected from Chelmsford or Colchester, and we are also running a home delivery service for mobility equipment in the area.

“Our first aid group will also move over to Chelmsford, and our emergency response and fundraising activity in the area should not be impacted by the closure as it does not need to be based at the building.

“We would like to thank our volunteers at Maldon for their committed service over the years and we hope they will consider other volunteering opportunities with the British Red Cross at Chelmsford or Colchester.”

The RVS has already relocated one of its lunch clubs to the Quaker Hall in Butt Lane and it is running every Monday from 10am to 2pm.