The future of The Centre, Oswestry's community hub, has been secured as Oswestry Town Council take control from Shropshire Council.
The handover took place, on September 4, and is aimed at safeguarding the Centre's role in the community.
The Centre on Oak Street was unveiled by Shropshire Council in 2012 as a modern base for the town's youth services.
But a series of ongoing challenges, not least the financial state of Shropshire Council, have threatened its sustainability.
Structural problems, particularly the poor condition of the roof which led to water damage, were among the many issues the building faced.
Wanting to improve youth provision in the town, but understanding the condition of the building Oswestry Town Council opted to step in and take over in 2022.
The decision came after feedback from the community, lengthy negotiations over two years, a thorough building survey listing the defects, and discussions with tenants.
The town council has agreed to undertake necessary repair works for the roof, despite its significant cost.
The council is eager to provide a secure place for community groups like OsNosh, St John Ambulance, SYA and the TNSFC Foundation.
Speaking on the subject, the Mayor of OswestrCllrllr Mike Isherwood said: "As well as providing a desperately needed youth facility, The Centre has become a community hub for all ages.
"The prospect of losing such an important asset doesn’t bear thinking about.
"We had to secure its future, and to create an opportunity for more services to be delivered from it."
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Resident, Mandy Chase, added: "It is a fabulous place to come.
"You meet so many lovely people, and from all walks of life.
"It’s somewhere to come and socialise.
"We all love it." To manage the Centre effectively and alleviate the financial burden on council taxpayers, Oswestry Town Council has decided to work with a lead partner.
It has allocated an initial sum of £50,000 to cover running costs for the first year and £250,000 to repair the building defects, including the roof.
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